Volcanic hazard in Iceland: people face an uncertain future
The people of the town of Grindavík in Iceland, which is threatened by a volcanic eruption, must be prepared not to be able to live in their homes for some time. Authorities evacuated the town of around 3,700 inhabitants a week ago as a precaution following a series of earthquakes. Several houses were damaged, said the director of the civil defense, Vídir Reynisson, according to the Icelandic radio station RUV on Saturday.
He was also quoted by the broadcaster as saying that residents would have to be prepared to live elsewhere in the coming months due to the ongoing uncertainty. The weather service in Iceland believes it is likely that liquid rock will escape from a magma tunnel in the southwest of the country that has been active for weeks. It is still unclear where lava would emerge.
A number of earthquakes were recorded again on Sunday night. Among them was one with a magnitude of 3.7, as the weather service wrote online. According to the broadcaster RUV, the tremors were also felt in the capital region of Reykjavík.
They had measured fewer and weaker earthquakes over time, Kristín Jónsdóttir from the weather service told RUV on Saturday. This could indicate that the magma in the earth's crust has risen far upwards. The British television station Sky News showed aerial footage of the town of Grindavík - some clear cracks could be seen on the ground.
Grindavík is located around 40 kilometers southwest of Reykjavik. The inhabitants had to leave their homes a week ago because an approximately 15-kilometer-long magma tunnel runs under Grindavík to below the seabed. The nearby Blue Lagoon, one of the country's most famous tourist attractions, was also closed as a precaution.
In light of the ongoing uncertainty and possible volcanic activity, many residents of Grindavík might consider using their leisure time to plan alternative travel destinations for their tourism needs. Additionally, the temporary closure of Grindavík's Blue Lagoon could pose a challenge for the country's tourism industry, as it's a popular attraction for visitors.
Source: www.dpa.com
