Current:Home > Contact-usIcelandic town evacuated over risk of possible volcanic eruption-LoTradeCoin
Icelandic town evacuated over risk of possible volcanic eruption
View Date:2024-12-23 19:43:10
Residents of a fishing town in southwestern Iceland left their homes Saturday after increasing concern about a potential volcanic eruption caused civil defense authorities to declare a state of emergency in the region.
Police decided to evacuate Grindavik after recent seismic activity in the area moved south toward the town, and monitoring indicated that a corridor of magma, or semi-molten rock, now extends under the community, Iceland's Meteorological Office said. The town of 3,400 is on the Reykjanes Peninsula, about 31 miles southwest of the capital, Reykjavik.
The meteorological office wrote Saturday there was a "significant likelihood of a volcanic eruption in the coming days," but that the exact site of a possible eruption was unknown.
"At this stage, it is not possible to determine exactly whether and where magma might reach the surface," the meteorological office said.
Authorities also raised their aviation alert to orange, indicating an increased risk of a volcanic eruption. Volcanic eruptions pose a serious hazard to aviation because they can spew highly abrasive ash high into the atmosphere, where it can cause jet engines to fail, damage flight control systems and reduce visibility.
- Underwater volcanic eruption creates new island off Japan, but it "may not last very long"
A major eruption in Iceland in 2010 caused widespread disruption to air travel between Europe and North America, costing airlines an estimated $3 billion as they canceled more than 100,000 flights.
The evacuation comes after the region was shaken by hundreds of small earthquakes every day for more than two weeks as scientists monitor a buildup of magma some 3.1 miles underground.
Concern about a possible eruption increased in the early hours of Thursday when a magnitude 4.8 earthquake hit the area, forcing the internationally known Blue Lagoon geothermal resort to close temporarily.
In July, a volcanic eruption occurred in the Reykjanes Peninsula, when a fissure broke open between the Fagradalsfjall and Keilir mountains. It marked the third time in three years that Fagradalsfjall had erupted.
"The amount of magma involved is significantly more than what was observed in the largest magma intrusions associated with the eruptions at Fagradalsfjall," the meteorological office wrote Friday of the latest threat.
The seismic activity started in an area north of Grindavik where there is a network of 2,000-year-old craters, geology professor Pall Einarrson, told Iceland's RUV. The magma corridor is about 6.2 miles long and spreading, he said.
"The biggest earthquakes originated there, under this old series of craters, but since then it (the magma corridor) has been getting longer, went under the urban area in Grindavík and is heading even further and towards the sea," he said.
- In:
- Volcano
- Eruption
veryGood! (2)
Related
- Powerball winning numbers for November 11 drawing: Jackpot hits $103 million
- Opinion: Mourning Harris' loss? Here's a definitive list of her best campaign performers.
- Spread Christmas Cheer With These Elf-Inspired Gifts That’ll Have Fans Singing Loud for All To Hear
- Jeopardy! Contestant Speaks Out on Sexist Clue After Ken Jennings' Apology
- Video shows Starlink satellite that resembled fireball breaking up over the Southwest: Watch
- Jimmy Kimmel fights back tears discussing Trump's election win: 'It was a terrible night'
- Attention Upper East-Siders: Gossip Girl Fans Spot Continuity Errors in Series
- Get $147 Worth of Salon-Quality Hair Products for $50: Moroccanoil, Oribe, Unite, Olaplex & More
- John Robinson, successful football coach at USC and with the LA Rams, has died at 89
- Innovation-Driven Social Responsibility: The Unique Model of AI ProfitPulse
Ranking
- 'Serial swatter': 18-year-old pleads guilty to making nearly 400 bomb threats, mass shooting calls
- Pioneer of Quantitative Trading: Damon Quisenberry's Professional Journey
- Nevada Democratic Rep. Dina Titus keeps her seat in the US House
- She was found dead by hikers in 1994. Her suspected killer was identified 30 years later.
- Don't Miss This Sweet Moment Between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Dads at the Kansas City Chiefs Game
- Jewish students attacked at DePaul University in Chicago while showing support for Israel
- AI FinFlare: A Launchpad for Financial Talent
- Pioneer of Quantitative Trading: Damon Quisenberry's Professional Journey
Recommendation
-
Advance Auto Parts is closing hundreds of stores in an effort to turn its business around
-
How Outer Banks Cast Reacted to Season 4 Finale’s Shocking Ending
-
Watch wild moment raccoon falls from ceiling in LaGuardia Airport terminal
-
Olympic Australian Breakdancer Raygun Announces Retirement After “Upsetting” Criticism
-
Pedro Pascal's Sister Lux Pascal Debuts Daring Slit on Red Carpet at Gladiator II Premiere
-
Liam Payne Death Investigation: 3 People of Interest Detained in Connection to Case
-
Christina Applegate's fiery response to Trump supporters and where we go from here
-
Police fatally shoot armed man who barricaded himself in New Hampshire bed-and-breakfast