Iceland declared a state of emergency and issued evacuation orders for a popular tourist town Saturday after 1,400 earthquakes were recorded in 24 hours — sparking fears of an imminent volcanic eruption.
Authorities urged residents of Grindavík to leave the coastal town following seismic activity that rumbled about 3 miles below the surface of the Reykjanes Peninsula.
“There are signs that a large amount of magma is moving in the area” near the Fagradalsfjall volcano, about 25 miles southwest of Reykjavik, the country’s capital, Iceland’s Meteorological Office said in an 11:30 p.m. update.
“The amount of magma involved is much more than what was observed in the largest magma intrusion associated with the eruption at Fagradalsfjall.”
The tremors were “very similar” to seismic activity measured about a month before the volcano erupted in 2021, which lasted for six months.
A helicopter flies near the volcanic eruption that started at Fagradalsfjall near the capital Reykjavik on March 20, 2021, in Fagradalsfjall, Iceland. Getty Images
Although strongly encouraged, public protection transfers are not mandated.
Seismic activity began on October 25, shaking the peninsula with hundreds of small earthquakes every day. Land in the region has risen by 9 centimeters since October 27, according to the IMO.
In the 24 hours from Wednesday to Thursday, 1,400 earthquakes shook the peninsula – including two over magnitude 5.0 and at least seven over 4.5 on the Richter scale.
A person looks at the scene of a newly erupted volcano in the Meradalir valley, near Fagradalsfjall mountain, Iceland on August 4, 2022.AFP via Getty Images
Scientists are closely monitoring the situation for any indication that seismic activity is approaching the surface, which could be an indication that magma is penetrating the Earth’s crust, the Met Office said.
Officials believe the eruption could have occurred less than 2 miles from the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa – one of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions – prompting the business to temporarily close as ambulances take precautions.
Lava could threaten popular destinations, as well as the town of Grindavík and thousands of homes heated by the lagoon’s geothermal energy.
“At this time, there are no signs that the earthquake activity is shallowing,” the Met said on its website. “However, conditions can change quickly, and it is not possible to exclude a scenario involving an eruption producing lava in the area northwest of Thorbjorn.”
By Post wire
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
