Here is a short overview of historical earthquakes in Iceland. Most of the quakes, however, are small and occur far from Reykjavik and the surrounding areas, where a majority of Iceland’s 368,000 residents live. Over the last 48 hours there have been 95 earthquakes with magnitude above Mw3,0. South Icelandic Seismic Zone. Tweet. The quake, with the epicenter located at about 29 km from Iceland's capital city of Reykjavik, was situated at the Reykjanes Volcanic Belt in the Reykjanes Peninsula. This is the biggest swarm to hit the Tjörnes Fracture zone in the north of the country in almost half a century, and experts are unsure what is causing it. “The two tectonic plates are moving away from each other, and that movement has created the conditions for magma to come to the surface,” said Freysteinn Sigmundsson, a research professor of geophysics at the University of Iceland. “We may be entering a new active period in the peninsula,” he added. Advanced National Seismic System. A strong earthquake shook the capital of Iceland earlier today, 24 Feb. 2021. An earthquake measuring 4.1 took place in the volano earlier this week and several earthquakes hit the volcano in September . Geophysicists and volcanologists say the quakes are the culmination of over a year of intense seismic activity, and although most of the tremors have lasted a few seconds, with light shaking, they have rattled residents in the capital, Reykjavik, just 20 miles north of the Reykjanes Peninsula where they have occurred. The quakes were widely detected in the capital area. Navigation. Warning. The epicenter of the quakes was recorded in the Reykjanes Peninsula region, roughly 40 kilometers from the capital, Reykjavík. Map via Vedur. We provide Iceland Map with detailed information of last earthquakes and volcano eruptions in last 48 hours. Earthquakes are common in Iceland, which boats a sweeping landscape dotted with dozens of volcanoes. There were no human fatalities, but 30 injuries were reported and a number of sheep were killed. Even for a volcanic island accustomed to the occasional tremor, this has been an unusual week for Iceland. The activity stretches over a relatively large area of the peninsula and Kristín Jónsdóttir, […] A powerful earthquake (6, 3 Richter scale) struck the Southern part of Iceland at 15:45 on the 29th of May in 2008. Iceland was hit by 61 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4 and more in 2013. Iceland is no stranger to seismic activity as the island has been formed by volcanic activity due to the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates moving away from each other. It's unusual," as the Icelandic Meteorological Office's (IMO) earthquake hazards coordinator Kristin Jonsdottir told Icelandic public broadcaster RUV. A series of earthquakes hit Southwest Iceland shortly after 10 am, the largest one of magnitude 5.7. “Never in my lifetime have I experienced so many earthquakes,” Dr. Einarsson said. Visit our interactive Earthquake live monitor and join the club. A powerful earthquake swarm began on the Reykjanes peninsula this morning when two quakes at or over Magnitude 5 struck just after 10.00 am local time. Dr. Pall Einarsson, a professor emeritus of geophysics at the University of Iceland, said what usually fascinated scientists, was now riveting the tiny nation. Yesterday, Iceland saw a string of earthquakes, with the maximum of those reaching 5.7 on the Richter Scale. Similar tremors have been observed ahead of volcanic eruptions in the past, and the Icelandic Meteorological Office said that magma movements were a likely cause for the continuing activity. Volcanoes in southwestern Iceland have been quiet for 800 years, but the period of rest may soon be over: More than 18,000 earthquakes have shaken the area in just over a week, leading scientists to believe that an eruption could be imminent. Iceland has had: (M1.5 or greater) 2 earthquakes in the past 24 hours 18 earthquakes in the past 7 days; 18 earthquakes in the past 30 days; 44 earthquakes in the past 365 days A M5.7 earthquake occurred on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula at 10.05am this morning, and dozens of earthquakes have followed since. Iceland Meteorological office - Earthquakes Iceland. A detailed guide to the most infamous volcanic eruptions in Iceland's history. Halldor Kolbeins/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images, “We may be entering a new active period in the peninsula,” said Dr. Pall Einarsson, a geophysicist at the University of Iceland. While Iceland’s current earthquake swarm may lead to an eruption, all available data shows it much more likely that the earthquakes will eventually end without magma reaching the surface, Vísir reports. Iceland is shaking hard today! Valur Grettisson. Aerial view taken on February 28, 2021 shows the footbridge linking the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates on the Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland. Today, the Reykjavík Grapevine Newscast visited the happiest town in Iceland, Grindavík. Earthquakes in Iceland today. NGDC (1972), Significant Earthquake Database (Data Set), National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA, doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K External links [ edit ] Earthquakes in Iceland magnitude 4 … It could also herald decades of intermittent volcanic eruptions. Visit us to get live volcano information. Iceland National monitoring seismic network detects around 500 earthquakes. Warning. The ridge oozes molten hot rock, or magma, from deeper in the Earth, forcing the plates to spread apart and causing quakes on the island. The recorded magnitudes of the two main quakes were 5.9 M w and 5.8 M w , respectively, giving a composite magnitude of 6.1 M w . An eruption could be imminent Even for a volcanic island accustomed to the occasional tremor, this has been an unusual week for Iceland . Here is a short overview of the activity on the South Icelandic Seismic Zone (SISZ) since Icelanders started to document it’s activity history. Locations of earthquakes in Iceland in the last 48 hours are shown as circles. Southwestern Iceland was rocked by a series of earthquakes Wednesday. Katla is 90 miles east of the capital, Reykjavik. The earthquake in Southern Iceland at 15.45 on Thursday afternoon caused damage to houses and furniture in many villages in the area. According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, around 17,000 earthquakes … Iceland Meteorological office - Earthquakes, Reykjanes peninsula, North Atlantic. “There seems to be food for some eruption.”. A volcanic eruption in Iceland 'could be imminent' after more than 18,000 earthquakes hit the island in the past week, authorities have warned. Navigation. Largest earthquake in the last 24 hour had a magnitude of Mw5,2 at 08:17 UTC and this earthquake was felt over a wide area in west Iceland. Iceland earthquake latest breaking news and updates, information, look at maps, watch videos and view photos and more. The quakes have been felt across much of the country, including the Westman Islands in South Iceland and Stykkishólmur in West Iceland. “We’re talking about an effusive eruption, rather than explosive,” said Dr. Sigmundsson, explaining that the lava would likely bubble out with little explosive force. The epicenter of the quake was about two kilometers southeast of Hveragerði. The first one hit at 10:06. Nearly constant earthquakes have plagued the main population center of Iceland in recent days, and officials warn this could be a sign of an imminent volcanic eruption. Two large earthquakes in Reykjanes have been confirmed on the website of the Icelandic Met Office so far. The earthquake which is estimated to be more than 6.1 on the Richter scale probably originated between … (“Well, this is Iceland,” Ms. Jakobsdottir said, before resuming.). https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/news/2021/02/24/the_earthquake_on_video According to geological experts in the US and Iceland, the epicenter of the main quake was located near Mt. Lava Centre - Live Earthquake and Volcano Monitoring in Iceland. Bárðarbunga is the largest and most powerful volcano in Iceland… Find articles, news, videos, pictures, links and facts about Iceland. A powerful 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck southwest Iceland on Tuesday, February, February 23, close to the city’s capital of Reykjavik. The effects of the series of earthquakes … Privacy Policy | Navigation. This page is a work in progress. Iceland has about 30 active volcanoes, but volcanologists say an eruption in Reykjanes won’t threaten inhabited areas on the peninsula. Southwestern Iceland was rocked by a series of earthquakes Wednesday. According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, around 17,000 earthquakes have hit the A volcanic eruption in Iceland 'could be imminent' after more than 18,000 earthquakes hit the island in the past week, authorities have warned. The Bridge Between Continents, a footbridge linking the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, near Grindavik, Iceland. Iceland was rocked by a series of earthquakes on Wednesday with the epicentre of the main quake located near Mt Keilir, roughly 30km south of the capital Reykjavik, Deutsche Welle writes. “We’re talking about feeling several of them every day.”. Geophysicists and volcanologists say the seismic activity on the island has intensified since December 2019. According to geological experts in the US and Iceland, the epicenter of the … The latest earthquakes are shown in red and the dark blue ones occurred over 24 hours ago. Dr. Einarsson said that out of the five volcanoes in the Reykjanes area, magma movement had been observed near at least three of them since the seismic episode began in December 2019. Photo by. Five more were recorded on the same day. Iceland sits on a tectonic plate boundary that continually splits apart and … “It looks like we are on time.”, In Iceland, 18,000 Earthquakes Over Days Signal Possible Eruption on the Horizon. RVK Newscast #77: Big Earthquakes In Grindavík, The Happiest Town In Iceland. | Mobile version. Iceland Prime minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir kept calm under pressure as a 5.5 magnitude earthquake interrupted her live interview with the Washington Post. In Iceland, 18,000 Earthquakes Over Days Signal Possible Eruption on the Horizon The earthquake swarm is the culmination of more than a year of … Legal notice | Iceland Meteorological office - Earthquakes, Reykjanes peninsula, North Atlantic. "It's an intense activity zone, we are all well aware of that but I've never experienced or felt so many strong earthquakes in such a short period of time. The earthquake swarm is the culmination of more than a year of intense seismic activity. It was followed by dozens of strong aftershocks. An ongoing earthquake swarm in Iceland has now reached over 13,000 quakes since it began on June 19. Even for a volcanic island accustomed to the occasional tremor, this has been an unusual week for Iceland. Scientists are nonetheless exploring possible scenarios for what might happen if it does. REYKJAVIK — A powerful earthquake on Wednesday rocked southwestern Iceland, including the capital Reykjavik, triggering increased volcanic activity but … The eruption of Iceland… 17,000 earthquakes hit Iceland … The meteorological office said the volcanic activity could occur near Fagradalsfjall, 20 miles south of Reykjavik, or near the Keilir mountain close by. The residents of Gridavik have been on alert for potential volcanic activity. Experts say shocks from the quake, which registered 5.7 in magnitude, sparked increased volcanic activity, triggering a number of aftershocks registering over 4.0 for hours after the initial quake hit. The … Alert phase from the Civil Protection due to an earthquake swarm in Reykjanes peninsula. Though the region has yet to experience eruptions as a result of the increased activity, the IMO nevertheless raised aviation warnings from green to yellow over the Krysuvik volcano system. “There’s a lot of them, and that worries people, but there’s nothing to worry about, the world is not going to collapse.”. Scientists are nonetheless exploring possible scenarios for what might happen if it does. Earthquakes are caused by movements within the Earth's crust and uppermost mantle.They range from events too weak to be detectable except by sensitive instrumentation, to sudden and violent events lasting many minutes which have caused some of the greatest disasters in human history. The meteorological office said that among possible scenarios, the ongoing seismic activities could decrease in the coming days or weeks, but the peninsula could also face more earthquakes, up to magnitude 6.5. The agency has warned that an eruption could occur within days or weeks. The last eruption to occur in the area, which is located on a tectonic fault, was in the 12th century but more recently, the eruption of Iceland's more southerly Eyjafjallajokull volcano over six days in 2010 caused massive disruption to international air travel, affecting as many as 10 million travelers. Warning. “Pulses of volcanic activity in the area come roughly every 800 years,” Dr. Thordarson said about the last eruptions in Reykjanes, which spanned from the 11th to the 13th century. In October 2020, Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir had to briefly interrupt herself during a live interview as an earthquake was felt in the country.