Iceland declares state of emergency as it braces for volcanic eruption

Iceland has declared a state of emergency due to a series of intense earthquakes on the Reykjanes Peninsula, fearing a volcanic eruption.

The Civil Protection and Emergency Management Department announced the emergency status as magma activity intensified in the northern part of the town of Grindavik on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Authorities warned that upcoming earthquakes might be larger, and the ongoing events might lead to a volcanic eruption.

With around 800 recorded earthquakes between midnight and 2 pm on November 10 and some as shallow as 3 to 3.5 kilometers, the Icelandic Meteorological Office noted magma accumulation about 5 kilometers below the surface. According to the office, if magma moves toward the surface, a volcanic eruption may occur, possibly within "a few days.".

Since late October, over 24,000 earthquakes have struck southwestern Iceland, with 1,400 reported in a 24-hour period this week. Emergency evacuation plans are in place for areas near the famous scenic spot Blue Lagoon and the town of Grindavik, a fishing town of around 3,000 residents. The risk level in the Grindavik area has been elevated, and the Chinese Embassy in Iceland has advised Chinese citizens to heighten their awareness of safety.

According to Ji Jianqing, a professor at the School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, frequent earthquakes indicate the increasing possibility of volcanic eruption. However, whether the volcano erupts eventually and the scale of eruption cannot be only determined by observing the earthquake frequency before the eruption.

Reykjanes is a volcanic and seismic hot spot southwest of the capital Reykjavik. In March 2021, lava fountains erupted spectacularly from a fissure in the ground measuring between 500 and 750 meters long in the region's Fagradalsfjall volcanic system. The Reykjanes region has seen several eruptions in unpopulated areas in recent years. The latest is expected to begin on the seabed just southwest of Grindavik, the meteorological office said.

(With input from AFP and Reuters)