The evacuation zone in Iceland is “still dangerous”, a civil safety official has informed The Independent, with current conditions leaving just a few minutes’ warning of a feared volcano eruption.
A fortnight since Grindavik was evacuated, after magma-induced seismic exercise tore huge chasms by the streets of the city, officials are expected to lower the threat level in the area on Thursday – enabling residents to return for longer intervals to gather their valuables.
Speaking to The Independent as international media were allowed back into the town for the primary time, one civil defence official mentioned: “It is still dangerous here … I have never seen anything like it before. Usually we will have a few minutes warning to get out but with the weather like it is today we have even less.”
In addition to fears of climate hampering monitoring techniques, civil safety chief Vídir Reynisson informed Fox News: “The challenge that we have is that we will not see any strong evidence that the magma is coming up, we will see some small earthquakes and we can see how they will probably form in one place rather than another.”
Key Points
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Evacuation zone ‘nonetheless harmful’ as eruption might happen with solely minutes’ discover
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Authorities to revise menace stage close to Grindavik
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Ground close to energy plant swells as chamber beneath floods with magma
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Peninsula braced for brand spanking new ‘eruptive cycle’ to carry a long time of volcanic instability
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When will Iceland volcano erupt and what occurs when it does?
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On the bottom in Grindavik: Christmas decorations flicker and youngsters’s bikes left to rust
New mother and father refuse to return to Iceland fishing city rocked by earthquake
20:45 , Alexander Butler
A Grindavik couple have refused to return to their home deeming it not protected sufficient to boost their new child after the 5.2 magnitude earthquake rocked the Icelandic fishing city, Barney Davis reviews from Reykjavík.
Guðjón and his spouse Ayça EriÅŸkin, who had their first little one on Wednesday, mentioned they’d determined not to return to Grindavik regardless of organising their household home there.
Guðjón, a rock musician born and raised within the harbour city informed The Independent: “While I fully understand people that intend to go back whenever possible and I do feel a strong urge to do so myself, we want to find a stable home for us and our newborn child.”
People refuse to return to Iceland city rocked by earthquake: ‘We need a stable home’
Every resident of an Icelandic city was evacuated as a consequence of a volcano. Daring rescuers went again to avoid wasting the pets
19:45 , Alexander Butler
Hundreds of pets have been rescued from Iceland’s city of Grindavik, after they have been separated from their homeowners amid threats of an imminent volcanic eruption.
Charities have taken half in a lot of rescue efforts in a bid to avoid wasting animals within the city with courageous rescuers returning to search for animals.
Cats, dogs, hamsters and even hens have been on the centre of rescue efforts after many have been left behind following evacuation orders which gave residents minutes to go away.
Rescue effort to save pets left behind in Iceland town evacuated by volcano threat
Iceland: Roads with cracks across Grindavik as volcano threatens to erupt
18:45 , Alexander Butler
Risk level cut from emergency to critical
17:45 , Jane Dalton
Grindavík has been brought down from emergency level to critical level, according to Iceland Monitor.
The decision was taken following new information from the Icelandic Met Office by the governor of the state police in consultation with the chief of Police of the southern peninsula region, the site said.
“The likelihood of a sudden eruption within the town limits of Grindavík has been decreasing every day and is now considered low.”
Iceland volcano: Seismologist spots earthquake during equipment explanation
16:20 , Alexander Butler
Chances of eruption in urban area now low, say experts
15:09 , Jane Dalton
The likelihood of a sudden eruption in the area of Grindavík, southwest Iceland, is decreasing daily, according to the Icelandic Met Office.
The experts warned an eruption elsewhere, between Hagafell and Sýlingarfell, was possible.
But they added: “However, as crustal relaxation continues to occur and seismicity decreases, along with a decrease in magma inflow to the intrusion, the likelihood of an imminent volcanic eruption diminishes with time.
“Based on the latest data, and considering the evolution of activity since 10 November, the likelihood of a sudden eruption within the Grindavík urban area is decreasing daily, and it is presently assessed as low.
“It can be assumed that newly emplaced magma beneath Grindavík has solidified partially, thereby reducing the likelihood that the magma will reach the surface within the city limits. However, we emphasise that the possibility of a volcanic eruption at some point along the length of the intrusion, particularly between Hagafell and Sýlingarfell, remains plausible.”
Seismic activity appears to decrease near magma dyke
13:37 , Andy Gregory
The number of earthquakes recorded near the magma dyke has decreased in recent days, monitoring suggests.
According to the Icelandic Met Office, approximately 300 earthquakes were detected there on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, around 100 earthquakes had been recorded as of 6pm in the same region, while the intensity of earthquakes above magnitude 2.0 has also decreased.
Efforts are being made to assess how weather conditions and ocean swell influenced the Met Office’s monitoring techniques through the interval of extreme climate over that interval, the meteorological company mentioned.
Iceland peninsula could possibly be coming into 300-year interval of volcanic exercise, seismologist says
12:23 , Andy Gregory
My colleague Barney Davis has been talking to Iceland’s prime seismologist, Professor Páll Einarsson, who talked The Independent by his numerous sensors as they picked up one other earthquake in Grindavik.
Prof Einarsson was introduced out of retirement to check the massive quantity of earthquakes. He is measuring tremors utilizing the motion of fibre optic cables laid throughout the faultline initially to offer broadband to Grindavik.
He mentioned he can be completely happy to maneuver again to Grindavik however its nonetheless far too unstable to maneuver his household.
“The last eruption was 1214 since then none until 2021 which is 800 years of slumber,” mentioned the seismologist.
“We may now be may be at the beginning of an active period for the next two or three centuries.”
Christmas decorations flicker and children’s bikes left to rust in Grindavik
10:43 , Andy Gregory
My colleague Barney Davis was among the many first worldwide journalists to enter the evacuated city of Grindavik yesterday. He reviews:
The as soon as bustling harbour city has been left empty since 10 November – the day the bottom opened up and prompted all the youngsters and the elderly to flee, not realizing what was across the nook or if they’d even see home once more.
Early Christmas decorations are left nonetheless switched on and youngsters’s bikes have been left to rust within the entrance yard of a home with an unlimited crack down the facet – just because it stood in the way in which of the shuddering faultline stretching from the mountains by the little city and into the Atlantic.
One avenue has its homes now kneeling forwards and an enormous fissure splits Grindavik’s solely old folks’s home.
The city’s fish and chip store nonetheless has its garish promoting hoarding switched on providing an eerie respite from the horrific hailstorms that descend each three minutes upon this determined Englishman.
Evacuating 3,700 residents was no imply feat. They have been informed to show off the electrical energy of their houses and shut all home windows. You can see the indicators flapping within the excessive winds, declaring the home was efficiently emptied.
Collapsed houses, sinkholes and damaged roads: Inside Iceland’s ghost city of Grindavik
Evacuation zone ‘nonetheless harmful’ as eruption might happen with solely minutes’ discover
09:23 , Andy Gregory
The evacuation zone at Grindavik is “still dangerous”, with situations that means residents would have just some minutes’ warning to flee previous to an eruption. a civil defence official has informed The Independent.
Speaking to The Independent as international media were allowed into the town for the primary time because it was evacuated, Hjordis Gudmundsdottir mentioned: “It is still dangerous here. This is why we don’t let normal people or the media in until now.
“I have never seen anything like it before. Usually we will have a few minutes warning to get out but with the weather like it is today we have even less.” A climate warning is in place for sturdy gale-force winds in japanese Iceland.
It got here as authorities mentioned rescue staff might get as little as “30 minutes’ notice” earlier than the anticipated volcanic eruption.
“The challenge that we have is that we will not see any strong evidence that the magma is coming up, we will see some small earthquakes and we can see how they will probably form in one place rather than another,” Vídir Reynisson, the pinnacle of the civil safety and emergency administration company, informed Fox News.
Grindavik residents allowed to return for full days to gather objects
09:02 , Andy Gregory
Residents within the evacuated city of Grindavik can be allowed to return to their houses for for much longer than beforehand to rescue their valuables.
Authorities are anticipated to decrease the menace stage within the space at 11am this morning, from which level it’s supposed that residents can be permitted to be in Grindavik between the hours of 9am and 4pm every single day.
Residents can now drive themselves to the city slightly than be escorted by emergency officers, and suggested to walk to and from their houses in a approach that permits them to evacuate at quick discover.
Emergency risk set to be revised. police say
08:16 , Andy Gregory
The threat level in the area of Grindavik is set to be revised at 11am – from one of “emergency” to “danger”, police said on Wednesday evening.
The police commissioner and local authorities made the decision following a new assessment by the Icelandic Meteorological Office, which states that the probability of a sudden eruption within the town limits of Grindavík has been decreasing every day and is now considered small.
Land is still rising in Svarteng and the magma there could flow again under the magma tunnel under Grindavík, but the Norwegian Meteorological Agency said that signs of this would be detectable on seismic and GPS sensors.
There is still a possibility of a volcanic eruption in the area above the magma tunnel, most likely between Hagafell and Sýlingarfell, and civil defence teams will continue to keep the area well patrolled.
In case you missed it: The Independent at site of road blockade to Grindavik
00:03 , Maira Butt
Only pre-approved residents were allowed access to Grindavik on Wednesday as 78 who registered request to return to collect belongings were allowed through from 9am.
The Independent’s Barney Davis reported from the scene of an emergency blockade staffed by search and rescue staff.
Only an 18-wheeler lorry was allowed by.
Civil Defence press convention abstract
Wednesday 22 November 2023 23:03 , Maira Butt
Officials held a press conference on Wednesday to update the general public on probably the most recent developments following the Icelandic Met Office’s “high risk” of volcanic eruption.
The Red Cross suggested that it was okay to be “gentle” throughout this time, advocating using “age appropriate” language when talking to young kids.
Víðir Reynisson, the Director of Civil Protection, mentioned {that a} group of specialists can be taking a look at the opportunity of pumping water over the lava to chill it within the occasion the volcano erupted.
Over 700 folks have requested housing after being evacuated from the city of Grindavik.
Officials confirmed that media access can be reconsidered and reporters can be allowed a greater alternative to take images and canopy the story.
Police thanked volunteers and emergency providers and reminded people who providers have been getting used to a brand new state of affairs.
Danger zone expanded by Iceland Met Office
Wednesday 22 November 2023 22:02 , Maira Butt
The site of Grindavik’s volcanic eruption has been expanded to incorporate a wider space in its ‘danger zone’.
Iceland’s Met Office expanded the world on Tuesday amid options {that a} bigger space than anticipated could possibly be affected. See probably the most recent map beneath.
There are three danger areas as can be seen on the above map, according to The Iceland Monitor:
Orange: Danger zone A: Danger due to seismic activity.
Red: Danger zone B: Danger due to possible eruption (including the earth cracking open suddenly, eruption with little forewarning, lava flowing and dangerous gas pollution).
Purple: Danger zone C: Increased danger of eruption like in zone B, and even more danger of earth opening suddenly and dangerous gas pollution. In this zone escape routes need to be clear, gas monitors are needed and gasmasks if you go into the area.
Earthquakes around Grindavik a ‘harbinger’ of larger occasions in future
Wednesday 22 November 2023 21:01 , Maira Butt
Earthquakes in and round Grindavík could be a harbinger of different and greater occasions within the close to future, in accordance with RUV’s Kveikur.
They report that an eruption might herald a reshaping of the Rekjanes peninsula.
Critical infrastructure could possibly be destroyed and a few residents have informed The Independent that they’d rethink transferring again in future.
Is it protected to journey to Iceland? Your rights when you have a vacation booked
Wednesday 22 November 2023 20:01 , Maira Butt
Simon Calder reviews:
The earth is at its most restless in Iceland proper now. The Reykjanes peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik, is seething with seismic exercise sparking hundreds of small earthquakes.
The city of Grindavík, simply 10 miles south of Keflavik International Airport, has been evacuated as a precaution.
Yet flights are continuing to arrive and depart as regular. These are the important thing questions and solutions on client rights.
I’m in Iceland. Will I be capable of depart?
Yes, assuming the worldwide airport stays open. So far operations have been regular. You could also be eager to go away sooner than booked, with a purpose to guarantee your getaway, however at current you won’t be able to modify flights with out paying a penalty.
Read the complete piece here.
In footage: roads rendered unusable following hundreds of earthquakes
Wednesday 22 November 2023 19:03 , Alexander Butler
‘It’s like a dystopian film’: Iceland residents describe ‘apocalyptic’ scenes
Wednesday 22 November 2023 18:00 , Maira Butt
Lydia Patrick reviews:
Residents from a small Icelandic town below menace from a volcanic eruption have described their ‘apocalyptic’ existence as they concern for his or her future.
Grindavik resident Andrea Ævarsdóttir, 46, informed The Independent: “Everything just seems so unreal, I feel like I’m in a dystopian movie. I’m just waiting to wake up from this nightmare.”
The mom was preparing to enter Reykjavík to have fun her son Björgvin Hrafnar’s sixteenth birthday when their home began to shake on Friday.
Read the complete piece here.
Iceland volcanic eruption nonetheless ‘expected and imminent’
Wednesday 22 November 2023 16:57 , Barney Davis (in Reykjavik)
Barney Davis reviews from Reykjavik:
Jon Baglundsson, spokesperson for the ICE-SAR, a volunteer rescue workforce escorting tons of to retrieve valuables, mentioned it’s “now a waiting game”.
He informed The Independent: “Since the village was evacuated over a week ago we have been working to let residents retrieve their most heartfelt valuables in small numbers every day.”
Mr Baglundsson added: “The seismic activity has dwindled slightly but land is still rising to the northwest of the town.
“An eruption is still expected and imminent but we just don’t know when or where. There is no time limit but they are asked to go as quickly as they can.”
Read the full piece here.
Iceland seismic exercise feels like ‘doors slamming, hail pelting against a tin roof’
Wednesday 22 November 2023 16:30 , Maira Butt
Researchers at Northwestern University have added the sounds of Iceland’s earthquakes and different seismic exercise to an app so listeners can hear hear slightly than see activity forward of an “imminent risk” of eruption.
In a press release on their web site, the University mentioned:
“So far, Iceland’s recent, ongoing seismic activity sounds like a jarring symphony of doors slamming, hail pelting against a tin roof or window and people cracking trays of ice cubes.”
They added: “By listening to activities recorded by the Global Seismographic Network station (named BORG), located to the north-northeast of Reykjavik, people can hear how the seismic activity has changed around the Fagradalsfjall area.”
In case you missed it: Iceland volcano might erupt like a ‘can of fizzy drink’
Wednesday 22 November 2023 15:55 , Maira Butt
Matt Mathers reviews:
A volcano close to erupting in Iceland might explode like a “can of fizzy drink,” an professional has mentioned.
Magma has been building beneath Iceland and Margaret Hartley, a senior lecturer in Earth sciences on the University of Manchester, mentioned an eruption was a case of when, not if.
“I do think an eruption will take place, but the big question is when that might happen,” she informed Live Science.
An eruption would take place when an open fracture connecting the magma dike to the Earth’s floor opens up.
“The most likely way to create this fracture is that a pressure build-up of gas bubbles in the dike will force magma towards the surface, breaking the crust apart,” she mentioned.
“The process is a bit like shaking up a can of fizzy drink — as soon as a crack opens in the top of the can, the drink escapes with lots of frothing.”
Read the full piece here.
Elderly people evacuated from nursing home rehoused say Red Cross
Wednesday 22 November 2023 15:30 , Maira Butt
Many elderly people were evacuated from a nursing home in Víðihlíð following earthquakes and “high risk” threats of a volcanic eruption in the area, according to RUV.
Elfa Dögg, a team leader at the Red Cross, confirmed that this group of vulnerable people were now in housing and getting the services they needed in response to a question by Iceland’s morning paper.
Over 4 thousand folks have been ordered to go away their houses in Grindavik amid hundreds of earthquakes and the specter of an “imminent” volcanic eruption.
Tenants permitted to cancel leases in Grindavik according to attorney
Wednesday 22 November 2023 15:00 , Maira Butt
The legal status of tenants was discussed at a tenant’s affiliation assembly final evening, according to RUV.
In the opinion of legal professional Gísl Tryggvason, tenants from Grindavík have the suitable to cancel their leases as a consequence of the situation that has arisen there.
Chairman of the tenant’s affiliation mentioned: “We mustn’t forget that there are 1,200 new families on the rental market who were not on the rental market before. So all Grindvíkings, or most of them, are now becoming tenants, and they also need to realize what their position is in the rental market, which we all know is very unhealthy.”
Video: The Independent at website of city roadblock the place there may be ‘high risk of volcanic eruption’
Wednesday 22 November 2023 14:30 , Barney Davis in Reykjavik
Grindavik remained topic to a roadblock this morning as search and rescue ensured no access was permitted to the positioning the place there’s a “high risk of volcanic eruption” in accordance with Iceland’s Met Office.
The Independent’s Barney Davis is reporting dwell from Iceland the place media are mentioned to be allowed extra open access to take images and share public info quickly.
Media can be allowed into space ‘in orderly manner’ after complaints
Wednesday 22 November 2023 14:00 , Maira Butt
Media can be allowed into the Grindavik space ‘in an orderly manner’ in accordance with a press convention held by the country’s civil defence team.
It comes after the Journalists Association of Iceland made an enchantment in regards to the lack of media access to websites referring to the volcanic eruption.
The grievance talked about that journalists are normally working in dangerous conditions, together with in catastrophe and battle areas that strange residents have been ordered to go away, saying in a press release on their web site “one of the roles of the media is to report news from such areas”.
The Minister of Media had beforehand mentioned she regretted that media access had not been higher. However, officers on the press convention on Wednesday morning mentioned it was vital to do not forget that officers have been discovering their ft in new territory.
Red Cross says ‘important to be gentle’ and communicate to kids in ‘age appropriate’ method
Wednesday 22 November 2023 13:30 , Maira Butt
A workforce chief on the Red Cross, Elfa Dögg Leifsdóttir, informed a press convention that it was vital to be light throughout this time of disruption for local residents as they look ahead to the end result of a potential volcanic eruption.
She mentioned “fluctuations are normal at times like these”. She suggested folks to “rest well, be patient with yourself and others”.
Ms Leifsdóttir informed the convention that it was additionally vital to make sure kids have been included in discussions on the specter of a volcano in a fashion which was “age appropriate”.
Over 700 requests for accommodation says Iceland’s National Defence
Wednesday 22 November 2023 13:15 , Maira Butt
There have been over 700 requests for lodging by Grindavik residents in accordance with Iceland’s National Defence in an interview with RUV.
The authorities web site has added a portal for the over 4,000 evacuated residents to request housing in addition to industrial premises to proceed business.
There can be a type available on the positioning for residents to request access to the city to retrieve belongings. Emergency personnel have accompanied these journeys to this point, with 78 scheduled to enter the city in the present day.
Possibility of ‘pumping water on lava’ say officers
Wednesday 22 November 2023 12:53 , Maira Butt
Icelandic officers say they’re contemplating all possibilites in relation to a potential volcanic eruption, together with pumping water over the lava. Experts beforehand mentioned that the volcano might erupt like a “fizzy drink”.
Víðir Reynisson, director of the Icelandic National Defense informed RUV at a public assembly this morning:
“We are in the European cooperation on civil defense and there are all kinds of teams that are registered there.
“Among other things, there are teams that pump flood water, and we wanted to investigate whether it was possible to use the equipment that pumps an uncontrollable amount of water and bring it to the edge of the lava.”
‘Economy could be strongly affected by eruption’ says Bank of Iceland
Wednesday 22 November 2023 12:30 , Maira Butt
Iceland’s central financial institution saved its key coverage charges unchanged on Wednesday as a consequence of uncertainty across the results of a potential volcanic eruption.
“There is significant uncertainty about the economic consequences of a possible volcanic eruption in the region and the impact on the government’s need for funding, which could have a considerable impact on treasury bond yields,” the central bank mentioned.
“If a large eruption takes place near key infrastructure, the resulting damage could be substantial. The economy could also be strongly affected by a protracted eruption,” the central financial institution mentioned.
“The impact on tourism, other exports, public sector performance, the exchange rate and inflation could be significant,” it added.
Residents permitted to enter evacuated city are contacted
Wednesday 22 November 2023 12:00 , Maira Butt
Those who can be allowed again into Grindavik have been contacted, in accordance with Iceland’s RUV.
According to the announcement which was made by the police chief in Suðurnes, contact had been made with a complete of 78 residents of Grindavik who can be allowed the prospect to enter the city in the present day.
Only contacted residents are permitted to enter the town, and should register prematurely. Emergency personnel can be trasported together with residents.
They can be allowed to enter from 9am, whereas businesses can be allowed in from 3pm.
Chief superintendent says ‘restrictions are being considered’
Wednesday 22 November 2023 11:27 , Maira Butt
Víðir Reynisson, the chief superintendent of the Office of the National Commissioner for the Police has told a press conference that ‘restrictions are being considered’.
He mentioned limitations on access and motion into the world can be adjusted as soon as there was info that the flow of magma into the magma tunnel had stopped, which was not the case at current.
Icelandic civil defence unit holds press conference
Wednesday 22 November 2023 11:17 , Maira Butt
Iceland’s Civil Defence unit held a press convention at 11am on Wednesday.
Officials thanked the volunteer-led efforts, police and fireplace brigade providers in addition to the media for sharing public info.
They have reiterated that the state of affairs on the bottom stays unchanged.
Iceland’s Met Office has retained a warning that the chance of an eruption is ‘high’
Work on defence walls to keep out lava stopped due to bad weather
Wednesday 22 November 2023 11:15 , Maira Butt
Work being done to build defence walls to keep out the flow of lava was halted on Tuesday night due to bad weather, according to the Iceland Monitor.
“Work on the defense walls was basically stopped last night,” a construction engineer told The Monitor.
“It’s a bit affected by the climate, however the Met Office issued a press release that it couldn’t monitor the world safely with air high quality meters, so we took the choice to cease final evening and we’re going to cease in the present day as effectively.
“We’ll then re-evaluate the state of affairs later in the present day, earlier than the evening shift begins. So that is the state of affairs in the meanwhile.”
Iceland’s central financial institution retains charges on maintain amid menace of volcanic eruption
Wednesday 22 November 2023 10:45 , Maira Butt
The central financial institution of Iceland will maintain its key coverage rate of interest unchanged at 9.25 per cent amid uncertainty round ongoing earthquakes, saying a possible volcanic eruption outweighed the chance of hovering inflation.
The Bank of Iceland’s financial coverage committee mentioned: “The MPC has decided to keep the key interest rate unchanged, owing to uncertainty about the economic impact of seismic activity on the Reykjanes peninsula.”
Almost 4,000 folks have been evacuated this month from a coastal city as the bottom shook, roads cracked and buildings suffered structural harm from hundreds of quakes, and as scientists feared molten rock might imminently rise to the earth’s floor.
Located between the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates, Iceland is a perennial seismic scorching spot, however direct volcanic threats to inhabited areas are nonetheless uncommon.
In footage: Town at website of eruption closed by search and rescue roadblock
Wednesday 22 November 2023 10:15 , Barney Davis in Reyjavik
The solar is rising on the Search and Rescue roadblock at Grindavavikurvegur letting 18 wheeler lorries out however no residents in.
The just lately expanded lockdown zone from the north facet has closed the one available street to the thermal baths of Blue Lagoon.
‘Leave the area!’: Emergency alerts despatched to folks round Grindavik
Wednesday 22 November 2023 09:46 , Barney Davis (in Reykjavik)
The Independent’s Barney Davis is reporting dwell from the bottom in Iceland.
People have acquired a textual content message from 112 emergency updates.
“The area around Grindavík has been closed. No entry – LEAVE THE AREA!”
Rescue groups say eruption “now a waiting game”
Wednesday 22 November 2023 09:21 , Barney Davis (in Reykjavik)
Iceland watches on helplessly as rescue workers escorting locals back to the evacuated fishing town of Grindavik say it is “now a waiting game” earlier than an eruption.
Gripped viewers are glued to predominant TV News channel RUV.is because it performs a dwell stream of the glowing crater with fashionable Icelandic digital music underneath as the countdown continued on Tuesday.
Jon Baglundsson, spokesperson for the ICE-SAR, a volunteer rescue workforce escorting tons of to retrieve valuables, mentioned it’s “now a waiting game”.
He informed The Independent: “Since the village was evacuated over a week ago we have been working to let residents retrieve their most heartfelt valuables in small numbers every day.
“This project has been going quite well and running smoothly.
“This takes time, there are 1,200 homes. People are mostly coming back for pictures of children, grandchildren on hard drives or whatever people store on their memories nowadays.”
Read the complete piece here.
Iceland’s Met Office records ‘considerably’ fewer earthquakes overnight
Wednesday 22 November 2023 07:45 , Barney Davis
From midnight there have been around 50 earthquakes detected centred around the magmatic intrusion near Grindavík compared to the 1,500-1,800 earthquakes that jolted the town daily.
The Met Office added that no events larger than Magnitude 2.0 have been detected today, so far.
A spokesman conceded: “It can be anticipated that the intense weather passing over the country affects the sensitivity of the seismic network to detect micro-earthquakes, making it difficult to assess whether the seismic activity is decreasing.
“Waves affect the low-frequency signals in the seismometers where waves appear as noise. Fog and dark hail also affect the visual confirmation of the eruption with cameras.”
Is it safe to travel to Iceland?
Wednesday 22 November 2023 07:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The earth is at its most restless in Iceland right now. The Reykjanes peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik, is seething with seismic activity sparking hundreds of small earthquakes.
The town of Grindavík, just 10 miles south of Keflavik International Airport, has been evacuated as a precaution.
Yet flights are continuing to arrive and depart as normal. These are the key questions and answers on consumer rights.
Simon Calder has more.
Is it safe to travel to Iceland? Your rights if you have a holiday booked
Eruption at magma dyke would likely be within days, says top official
Wednesday 22 November 2023 07:00 , Alexander Butler
If an eruption is going to occur in the magma dyke near Grindavik, it will likely be “within days”, Iceland’s civil defence chief has mentioned.
According to Iceland’s nationwide broadcaster RUV, Víðir Reynisson informed reporters this morning: “We have very clear signs of magma along the dyke. It is estimated at less than 1km depth.
“Since then we have not seen signs of it getting closer to the surface. The likely time of something happening along the dyke, especially in the center, if it happens, is within days not weeks.
“If this continues without an eruption the chance of one decreases with time pretty rapidly. But then we see the changes at Svartsengi which possibly introduce the next stage of this.”
Journalists name for media access to Grindavik
Wednesday 22 November 2023 06:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Journalists in Iceland have criticised the authorities for proscribing media access to the small fishing city of Grindavik, which was evacuated forward of an imminent volcanic eruption.
“It is the role of the media to gather information, share information, allow the voice of the public to be heard and provide restraint to the authorities,” mentioned Erla Björg Gunnarsdóttir, editor of the Vísis newsroom.
“These restrictions in Grindavik prevent this role of the media altogether,” the editor was quoted by state broadcaster RUV as saying.
Þorsteinn Ásgrímsson Melén, deputy information director of mbl.is, mentioned: “There are many things that need to be monitored and it is natural that the media have their eyes on it.”
Both editors claimed that the federal government didn’t seek the advice of with the media earlier than shutting down access to reporters.
“We need to stop treating the media like naughty kids on a field trip to Grindavik. We cannot convincingly tell about what is happening in Grindavik while reporters are not allowed to enter,” Ms Erla added.
Met Office says stormy climate might disrupt monitoring techniques
Wednesday 22 November 2023 05:42 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Authorities in Iceland concern stormy climate situations might have an effect on monitoring techniques because the nation awaits an “imminent” volcanic eruption.
Just 165 small tremors have been recorded within the affected area since midnight on Monday, in comparison with the hundreds that jolted the city of Grindavik within the days prior.
The IMO mentioned it’s seemingly the adversarial climate situations are impacting “both the sensitivity of earthquake detection and real-time GPS monitoring”.
“Waves affect the low-frequency signals in the seismometers where waves appear as noise. Fog and dark hail also affect the visual confirmation of the eruption with cameras,” it added.
Area close to energy plant coming into ‘new eruption phase’, says volcanologist
Wednesday 22 November 2023 04:30 , Alexander Butler
The space close to the Svartsengi energy plant has entered a “new eruption phase”, an Icelandic volcanologist has steered.
The land close to the facility plant is swelling as a chamber some 4.5 kilometres beneath the floor fills with magma at a price of round 50 cubic metres per second, in accordance with Professor Thorvaldur Thordarson – in a repeat of the occasions which noticed big fissures seem within the floor earlier this month.
“I think the likelihood of an eruption in the northern part of the Sundhnúkar crater row or in Illahraun lava increasing every day. I think the likelihood of an eruption there is increasing because of the land rise in that area,” Professor Thordarson informed Iceland Monitor.
He added: “We’re in a new and a changed situation and we’ve entered a new the eruption phase, and so it’s very constructive for us to think about what kind of preventive measures we can take. What can we do before an eruption occurs that will help us reduce its impact on society and infrastructure?”
Roads crack open in Grindavik
Wednesday 22 November 2023 04:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Fewer earthquakes recorded ahead of ‘imminent’ volcanic eruption
Wednesday 22 November 2023 03:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Just 165 earthquakes, all beneath magnitude 2 on the Richter scale, have been recorded on Tuesday forward of the anticipated volcanic eruption, the Icelandic Met Office (IMO) mentioned.
This is significantly fewer than in the previous couple of days when 1,500-1,800 earthquakes have been recorded per day.
However, officers mentioned this didn’t essentially imply that seismic exercise had diminished.
“It can be expected that the intense weather passing over the country has an impact on the sensitivity of the seismic monitoring system to detect the smallest earthquakes, making it difficult to assess whether the seismic activity is decreasing overall,” the Met Office mentioned.
