More than a thousand tremors in just 24 hours in Iceland and expectations of a volcanic eruption

Arabia Weather - Iceland is considered one of the most volcanically active regions on the planet. Instead of a central volcano, the Reykjanes Peninsula is dominated by a rift valley, dotted with lava fields.

1,400 earthquakes in 24 hours

According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, about 1,400 earthquakes were recorded in the 24 hours before midday on Thursday, November 9, in addition to another 800 in the first 14 hours of Friday.

Five earthquakes of magnitude 7 or greater struck on Thursday, all on the peninsula, near the airport and Mount Selingarville, located east of the Blue Lagoon. The strongest earthquake, with a magnitude of 4.8, was recorded west of Örbjörn, which is a volcanic mountain, near the Blue Lagoon, before one o'clock in the morning on Thursday.

The Meteorological Office reported in its bulletin on Thursday that “the largest earthquake since the beginning of seismic activity on October 25” had been recorded. He indicated that the accumulation of molten materials continues, which expects an increase in seismic activity in the Reykjavik Peninsula, as the leakage of these materials causes increased vibration in the region.

A spokesperson for the local tourism board explained to CNN that the quake could be felt even as far away as Reykjavik.

Within 24 hours, 1,200 earthquakes were measured, most of them in the same area and at the same depth, which is about five kilometers below the surface of the Earth. On 8 November, the Met Office noted: “Seismic activity is likely to continue, of episodic intensity, while magma continues to accumulate.”

On Friday, the region continued to react, with around 800 earthquakes measured since midnight, according to the 2pm local time bulletin from the Icelandic Meteorological Office.

A "dense series" of earthquakes

A "dense series" of earthquakes began at 7 a.m., culminating in a 4.1 magnitude quake near Selingarville just before 2 p.m. However, it was also difficult to confirm that the eruption would not necessarily happen soon.

"The fact that there are now larger earthquakes than before in the area does not necessarily mean an increased rate of magma accumulation," the Met Office bulletin said on Thursday. Friday's bulletin warned that earthquakes of up to 5.5 magnitude "can be expected" as magma continues to accumulate underground. However, they noted, "At this point, there are no indications that magma is making its way to the surface."

According to a statement from local tourism authority Visit Reykjanes, the current activity is similar to activity that preceded last year's eruption of Fagradalsfjall volcano, about 8.5 miles southwest of the Blue Lagoon.

The Fagradalsfjall volcano has erupted every year since 2021. Its most recent eruption occurred from July 10 to August 8, 2023. When hiking trails reopened in August, visitors were warned not to walk on lava that remains "Hot."

Expectations of a volcanic eruption in Grindavik, Iceland

If a volcanic eruption occurs, warnings will be sent to all mobile phones in the affected area.

The Blue Lagoon, the spa, and nearby hotels and restaurants were closed on November 9 and are scheduled to reopen on November 16, according to a statement posted on the website. “The main reason for taking these precautionary measures is our commitment to... Consistent with safety and well-being.”

A spokesperson for the venue told CNN: “Although the Icelandic authorities have not raised the level of uncertainty during this seismic period, the main reason for these precautionary measures is our firm commitment to prioritizing the safety and well-being of our guests and employees.”

Any visitors with reservations will receive a full refund of the reservation price, and guests with advance reservations through November 15 have been contacted.

CNN