With the threat of a volcanic eruption just hours away, Iceland has completely evacuated the southwestern town of Grindavík. Iceland declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes hit the region.
According to the Icelandic Meterological Office (IMO), there was a considerable risk of an eruption. Since morning, the probability of an eruption on or just off the Reykjanes peninsula has increased, it said.
Experts warned an eruption would happen within just days or hours.
Over 3,000 residents were evacuated from Grindavík as a precaution. On Sunday, residents from each household in one district of Grindavík was allowed to enter their homes for five minutes to collect essential belongings.
According to Iceland's civil defence force, it was a planned and controlled operation under the orders of the police. "The people would be driven in emergency service vehicles and accompanied with civil defence workers," it said.
After magma shifting under the earth's crust caused hundreds of earthquakes, the town of Grindavík was evacuated. Most of the quakes were recorded at a depth of between 3,000 and 5,000 metres, with activity concentrated north and south of the evacuated town.
Experts also warned that if the eruption occurs even close to the town, the consequences would be devastating. If the town is not hit with an eruption, then it would occur out at sea.
Taking to X, MP Gisli Olafsson said the country was praying the "worst case scenarios do not happen".
An update on the situation in #Grindavik #Iceland #Reykjanes #eruption #volcano pic.twitter.com/5kzPnV9e2K
— Gisli Olafsson (@gislio) November 12, 2023
Iceland has around 33 active volcanic systems. Emergency shelters and help centres were opened in several towns after series of earthquakes.
In recent years, there were three eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula near Fagradalsfjall volcano. The eruptions occurred in March 2021, August 2022 and July 2023.
On Thursday, increased seismic activity prompted the closure of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, one of Iceland's main tourist attractions. Reykjanes is a volcanic and seismic hot spot southwest of the capital Reykjavik.
