Icelandic authorities have declared a state of emergency after a series of powerful earthquakes rocked the country’s southwestern Reykjanes peninsula, signalling the increased likelihood of a volcanic eruption in the region.
“The National police chief … declares a state of emergency for civil defence due to the intense earthquake (activity) at Sundhnjukagigar, north of Grindavik,” the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management said in a statement.
“Earthquakes can become larger than those that have occurred and this series of events could lead to an eruption,” the administration warned.
Saw some tiktoks with local footage of ground displacement and reports of 120cm ground level changes. I drove through Grindavik just last a couple of weeks ago. I really hope this magma finds a gentle way to the surface, out and away from the city.