A massive volcano in Iceland could erupt in days after 1,200 earthquakes were recorded.
The quakes have all been detected at Fagradalsfjall on the Reykanes peninsular since 10pm on July 4. Scientists from the Icelandic Meteorological Office and the University of Iceland are due to meet with the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management to discuss the situation.
Massive volcano set to ERUPT IN DAYS after being rocked by 1,200 earthquakes
Despite the fears of an eruption in coming days, there is no indication one is imminent despite the fact there have been 1,200 earthquakes on the peninsular.
By CHRISTOPHER SHARP20:25, Wed, Jul 5, 2023 | UPDATED: 20:49, Wed, Jul 5, 202360BOOKMARK
There are fears a volcano in Iceland could erupt in the coming days (Image: Getty)
A massive volcano in Iceland could erupt in days after 1,200 earthquakes were recorded.
The quakes have all been detected at Fagradalsfjall on the Reykanes peninsular since 10pm on July 4. Scientists from the Icelandic Meteorological Office and the University of Iceland are due to meet with the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management to discuss the situation.
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The volcano is on the Reykjanes Peninsula (Image: Getty)
Reports from Iceland Review suggest there are signs that there has been an uplift and rise in magma collecting below the surface.
This increase has been measured on the Reykjanes peninsular since the beginning of April.
Despite the fears of an eruption in the coming days, there is allegedly no indication that an eruption is imminent despite the fact there have been 1,200 earthquakes on the peninsular.
Of these quakes, eight have been measured as above three in magnitude with the largest quake believed to have been between 3.6 and 3.7.
In an interview with Vísir, natural hazards expert at the Icelandic MET Office Elísabet Pálmadóttir said that the situation was being monitored closely.
She said no unrest had been witnessed in the run-up to the last eruption at Fagradalsfjall and that experts were mainly monitoring whether the earthquakes were moving closer to the surface.
Vísir reported that it is believed the earthquakes originated with a magma intrusion at a depth of around five kilometres.
Elísabet said: “This is definitely a lot of activity, and we take it seriously.”
As to whether there will be an eruption in the coming days, Magnús Freyr Sigurkarlsson told RÚV that the intrusion activity was taking place at a depth of around five kilometres and that magma was accumulating.
He noted that the activity was similar to the lead-up to the last eruption where there was intrusion activity for five days before magma rose to the surface.
Magnús said: “If this continues we think that there is a possibility that an eruption could occur within a few days.”
