In a concerning development, the town of Grindavik near Reykjavik, with 4,000 residents, faces potential devastation from an imminent volcanic eruption, prompting evacuations. Experts fear damage to houses and infrastructure as magma nears the surface. The possibility of a crack appearing in the ground, leading to an eruption, is high. While an oceanic eruption causing a significant ash cloud is plausible, it remains uncertain. The Reykjanes peninsula, dormant for 800 years before the 2021 eruption, is now experiencing heightened volcanic activity, possibly persisting for decades. Iceland’s unique geological position on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge contributes to its frequent volcanic events. This information is sourced from France 24, and credit goes to them for the original content.
A town near Reykjavik with around 4,000 residents might face serious damage from a volcano that experts predict will erupt in the next few hours or days.
The town of Grindavik, on the southwest coast, had to be emptied early on Saturday because the ground shaking and many earthquakes suggested a volcano might erupt soon. Vidir Reynisson, who heads Iceland’s Civil Protection and Emergency Management, said they are really worried about the houses and infrastructure in that area. Grindavik, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Reykjavik, is close to the Svartsengi geothermal plant, which supplies power and water to 30,000 people in the region, and there’s also a freshwater reservoir. The town is also near the Blue Lagoon spa, a famous tourist spot that closed as a precaution earlier this week.
“The magma is now very close to the surface, so we anticipate an eruption in a few hours at the earliest, but definitely within a couple of days,” explained Reynisson. The most likely situation is that a crack will appear in the ground near Grindavik. “We have a crack that’s about 15 kilometers long, and anywhere along that crack, an eruption could occur,” Reynisson added.
However, there’s a chance that the eruption might happen under the ocean, leading to a big ash cloud, though it’s not the most likely scenario. According to Reynisson, they can’t rule it out because the crack goes into the sea. The earthquakes and lifting of the ground caused by the magma have already damaged roads and buildings in Grindavik and nearby areas. The Grindavik golf course also has a big crack in it, as seen in pictures widely shared on social media. Iceland, with 33 active volcanoes, is in a state of emergency, and people were told to leave Grindavik on Saturday.
Emergency shelters and assistance centers are available in nearby towns, but many people from Grindavik are choosing to stay with friends or family, as reported by the media.
Before the eruption in March 2021, the Reykjanes peninsula hadn’t seen volcanic activity for 800 years. Scientists think this new phase of increased activity might continue for decades or even centuries.
Iceland is in the North Atlantic and is on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a gap in the ocean floor that separates the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.
In April 2010, there was a huge eruption at another volcano in Iceland called Eyjafjallajokull, in the south of the island. This caused the cancellation of about 100,000 flights and left over 10 million travelers stuck.
SOURCE : FRANCE 24