Fogbow

Iceland is bracing itself for a volcanic eruption that will arrive within “hours or days”, experts have warned.

Around 3,000 residents have evacuated the southwestern town of Grindavik close to the Fagradalsfjall volcanic system in the Reykjanes region.

Over the past 48 hours, Iceland has faced a seismic swarm as 1,485 earthquakes have hit the country. In addition, a magma tunnel is forming underground beneath the town, which South Iceland’s Volcano and Natural Hazards group believe could be 12km long.

The UK foreign office has updated its travel advice, warning that a volcanic eruption is increasingly likely, but it has not warned against travel with flights still touching down at Keflavik International Airport.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office said on Saturday there was a “considerable” risk of an eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula because of the size of the underground magma intrusion and the rate at which it was moving.

AndyinPA wrote: ↑Wed Nov 15, 2023 11:53 am The FB friend is nowhere near the area of activity. He posted that the film that is being used is not actual video of this eruption, and the government is trying to make this clear. So far, it's underground. I had wondered about that.

Estiveo wrote: ↑Sat Dec 02, 2023 11:27 am 7.6 just off the coast of Mindanao, the Phillipines. Tsunami warning for the Philippines & Japan.

One of Iceland’s most popular tourist attractions has reopened for the first time in more than a month – despite fears of a potential volcanic eruption.

The Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa south-west of the capital, Reykjavík, closed on 9 November after the Reykjanes peninsula was hit by a “seismic swarm” of more than 1,000 earthquakes in 24 hours that reportedly led to dozens of guests fleeing the resort in taxis.

In the days that followed, all 3,800 people living in the nearby town of Grindavík were evacuated from their homes – leaving many homeless and in limbo.

Although people have been allowed to return to their homes between 7am and 9pm each day, and some businesses have reopened, they still cannot stay overnight or walk around the town. They are waiting for an update this week to find out whether the evacuation rules will be lifted in time for Christmas.