A year after the most recent eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula began, scientists say the conditions that fuelled it remain in place, with continued magma accumulation beneath Svartsengi making another magma intrusion—and possibly another eruption—the most likely scenario.
The eruption, which began shortly before 4:00 AM on July 16, 2025, was the ninth in the Sundhnúksgígar crater row and remains the latest eruption in the ongoing volcanic episode on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
What’s the Story?
Original source: RÚV
- Magma continues to accumulate beneath Svartsengi at a record level.
- The Icelandic Meteorological Office says another magma intrusion remains the most likely outcome.
- The last eruption lasted around three weeks and caused gas pollution but no damage to infrastructure.
Record Magma Build-Up
According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, land uplift at Svartsengi has continued steadily in recent months, indicating that magma is still accumulating beneath the area.
Natural hazards specialist Salóme Jórunn Bernharðsdóttir said the current situation is broadly unchanged from recent months.
“Magma accumulation continues, although slowly, and land uplift is continuing at a steady rate,” she said, adding that the most likely scenario remains a new magma intrusion east of Svartsengi, which could ultimately lead to another volcanic eruption.
Models indicate that around 27 million cubic metres of magma have accumulated since June, exceeding the approximately 23 million cubic metres estimated before previous eruptive events.
The July 2025 eruption followed an intense earthquake swarm and magma intrusion that began shortly before midnight the previous day.
At its greatest extent, the eruptive fissure stretched around 2.5 kilometres but did not threaten infrastructure. Volcanic gas was, however, detected in populated areas across the Reykjanes Peninsula.
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