A series of earthquakes, the strongest of which exceeded three points on the Richter scale, shook the region around Eyjafjallajökull glacier, which covers an active volcano, in the past days. Now the tremors seem to be calming down.
Eyjafjallajökull towers over the farm Thorvaldsdeyri. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
Last night no earthquake had been stronger than one point on the Richter scale for 24 hours, Morgunbladid reports.
On Friday the response group of the Civil Protection Department and employees of the volcanic department of the Icelandic Meteorological Office convened and began preparing for a potential volcanic eruption.
However, now an eruption is less likely. Police in Hvolsvöllur said the Civil Protection Department still rates the situation as “uncertain,” although the uncertainty stage is expected to be lifted shortly.
Geologists no longer constantly observe the activity around the glacier but meteorologists on watch pay attention to the earthquake indicators around the clock and will call for reinforcement if necessary.
Eyjafjallajökull last erupted in 1821-1823 and before that in 1612. In 1994 and 1999 a series of earthquakes were measured in the area, which are believed to have been caused by magma intrusion deep inside the volcano.
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