1,400 earthquakes in 24 hours, an imminent volcanic eruption, and a state of emergency

On Thursday, the Blue Lagoon, a tourist site near Grindavik famous for its geothermal spas, was already closed as a precaution.

In total, more than 23,000 earthquakes have been recorded since October 25, including more than 1,400 in the past 24 hours, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Institute (IMO).

The Blue Lagoon site, known for its turquoise water pools and luxury hotels, “took a proactive decision to temporarily suspend its activities for a week.” A series of earthquakes have shaken the Reykjanes Peninsula, where the Blue Lagoon is located, in recent weeks.

Magma rising

On October 27, the International Maritime Organization discovered a bulge in the ground caused by the accumulation of magma at a depth of 5 kilometers.

This phenomenon has accelerated over the past 24 hours, and the movement of magma towards the surface was monitored on Friday. Real-time data from the Norwegian Meteorological Agency indicates that magma is currently seeping into Sundhnúka crater, about 3 kilometers northeast of Grindavík, the city where the Blue Lagoon is located.

Roads surrounding the site were cut off due to landslides, blocking traffic. A fire reportedly broke out in the town’s power plant.

These phenomena are common in this volcanic region, on the geology: the peninsula is located on the Atlantic media, some of the most important ones of the planet, où the tectonics plaques in North America and the European continent. from the last.

This is the fifth ground swelling observed in the region since the return of seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula in December 2019, after about 800 years of dormancy.