A series of earthquakes have been recorded in Iceland. Over the past three days, more than 5,500 small quakes occurred on the Reykjanes Peninsula, the largest of which had a magnitude of 4.5. As explained by the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO), seismic activity may be a prelude to the eruption of nearby volcanoes.
The first tremors occurred in the Reykjanes Peninsula region in southwestern Iceland on the night from Tuesday to Wednesday. More than a thousand earthquakes were recorded then, the strongest of which had a magnitude of 4.5. The tremors came from a depth of about 5 kilometers.
An eruption is likely
As explained by the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO), the earthquakes were triggered by stresses caused by the accumulation of magma beneath the surface of the region. This year, the Fagradalsfjall volcano erupted in an uninhabited part of the Reykjanes Peninsula, and the eruption was preceded by a series of earthquakes.
“From my perspective, as a scientist and someone who follows this activity very closely, I would say that an eruption within the next 12 months is likely,” Matthew Roberts, head of the IMO’s services and research division, told Reuters. “These earthquakes are a warning sign,” he added.
Fagradalsfjall has been active since 2021, when an eruption occurred after more than a year of earthquakes. Further outbreaks were recorded in 2022 and 2023.
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The road to the Fagradalsfjall volcano on the Reykjanes PeninsulaTYouth/Adobe Stock
Reuters, Icelandic Met Office
Main photo source: TYouth/Adobe Stock