Below is an excerpt from the latest status report of the events in Bárðarbunga volcano in Vatnajökull glacier from the National Crisis Coordination Center at the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police, Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management.
There is still substantial seismic activity at Bárðarbunga and Dyngjujökull. However, it subsided somewhat shortly after 2 am this morning. Almost 400 tremors have been automatically detected since midnight and, as before, most of them located at the magma dyke east of Bárðarbunga.
Most of the tremors examined are at considerable depth, 8-12 km, although a few shallower ones have been detected at 4 km depth, on the far east/north edge. It seems that seismic activity has partly moved slightly to the north, but not significantly. Just before midnight last night, at 23:50:22, a low-frequency event occurred at Bárðarbunga, in the south part of the caldera, of magnitude 4.8 (mb 4.7 according to EMSC and mb 4.8 according to NEIC; VÍ-alert-size was also 4.7). One, in addition, reached size M 3. Others have been small.
Following the surveillance flight by the Icelandic Coast Guard on 20 August, scientists are better able to map the area and obtain better data, as TF-SIF has special equipment to monitor changes on the surface of the glacier and to monitor floods. Access to SIF puts scientists in a better position to observe the unrest and the progress of a possible flood.
Scientists from IMO were on the glacier yesterday, both by Hamarinn and close to Dyngjujökull. This was in order to install new GPS stations and seismometers. In addition, hydrographic instruments have been used in the closed area.
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Administration has, in consultation with the Civil Protection, closed the following mountain roads: F- 910 Austurleid (Dyngjufjallaleid), F903, Hvannalindarvegur, F902, Kverkfjallaleid, F905, Arnardalsleid and F88, Oskjuleid.
A map of the closed roads can be found on the website of the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration and at Landmælingar.
A media unit is placed at the National Crisis Coordination Center, providing information and dealing with media requests. For further information, go to almannavarnir.is.
The website on safe travel in Iceland is updated regularly.
