Over 300 tremors have been recorded on the Reykjanes peninsula since midnight, RÚV reports. Despite there being no signs of an imminent volcanic eruption, the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management is meeting this morning to assess the situation.
Residents “unsettled” by tremors
An earthquake of magnitude 3.7 was recorded northwest of Grindavík just before 1 AM this morning, with its origin traced to a depth of about five kilometres. Since midnight, the area has experienced approximately 300 tremors, several of which ranged between magnitudes 2 and 3.
Böðvar Sveinsson, a Natural Hazards Specialist at the Icelandic Met Office, conveyed to RÚV this morning that the seismic activity in the area remains significant, with no notable changes in the situation.
According to RÚV, while there are no indications of a volcanic eruption, the ongoing tremors signify a magma intrusion, with magma movement detected at depths ranging from 1.5 to 5 kilometres. The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management continues to uphold the Uncertainty Phase, and has scheduled a meeting for this morning to further assess the situation.
Yesterday, Vísir interviewed residents in Grindavík, who have become accustomed to earthquakes following numerous tremors over the past few years. Nevertheless, the residents admitted that they still found them “unsettling.”
