Iceland awaits imminent volcanic eruption; mini quakes continue – insightdaily.in

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By Deirdre Bardolf

Thousands of mini earthquakes have been rattling Iceland in recent days and officials have pinpointed where they believe an imminent volcanic eruption will subsequently take place.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office said there is a “significant likelihood” that an eruption will occur somewhere along an underground nine-mile magma tunnel on the Reykjanes Peninsula, with the “prime location” north of the fishing town Grindavik.

Magmatic gas was found in a nearby bore hole, indicating a likely eruption.

Grindavik — which is surrounded by the molten tunnel — was evacuated a week ago as magma rumbled below the earth amid the tremors, cracking the ground and breaking concrete and walls of homes, according to reports.

Smoke poured out of the gaps, turning it into an apocalyptic ghosttown.

Grindavik is about 30 miles southwest of the capital Reykjavik and not far from Keflavik Airport, Iceland’s main facility for international flights.

The town’s 3,400 residents are anxiously awaiting the possible eruption but even if it doesn’t happen soon, authorities warn it will likely be months before they can return to the danger zone.

The nearby Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland’s top tourist attractions, has been closed due to volcano danger.

The Reykjanes Peninsula has seen three eruptions since 2021 after being dormant for 800 years, the Associated Press reported. Past eruptions occurred in remote valleys where there was little damage.

The nordic country averages an eruption every four to five years, the most severe in recent times being the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in 2010.

Huge clouds of ash grounded flights across Europe for days but scientists predict the looming eruption would produce lava, not ash.

With Post wires