Iceland volcano eruption chance remains ‘significant’ amid continuous earthquake activity
Thousands of earthquakes have been reported since the fears of a volcanic eruption began last week. Most of those have been reported along a 9-mile magma tunnel, or dike, just below the Earth’s surface.
Drone video shows large crack in Iceland town threatened by volcanic activity
Roads are closed in Grindavik, Iceland, after thousands of earthquakes rattled the town threatened by volcanic activity.
GRINDAVIK, Iceland – Evacuated residents of the seaside town of Grindavík in Iceland were allowed to return home on Monday to quickly gather belongings as hundreds of earthquakes continue to shake the region amid a "significant likeliness" that a volcano there could erupt within days.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said on Monday that about 900 earthquakes have been reported in the region since midnight, although the frequency and intensity have been decreasing.
ICELAND VOLCANO ERUPTION COULD WREAK HAVOC ON INTERNATIONAL AIR TRAVEL
![A large hole is seen in a road near Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption.]()
Image 1 of 21A large hole is seen in a road near Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption. (Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
![A large crack and hole is seen in a road near Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption.]()
Image 2 of 21A large crack and hole is seen in a road near Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption. (Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
![Crews are seen inspecting a road outside of Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption.]()
Image 3 of 21Crews are seen inspecting a road outside of Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption. (Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
![Crews are seen inspecting a road outside of Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption.]()
Image 4 of 21Crews are seen inspecting a road outside of Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption. (Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
![A large crack developed across a road outside Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption.]()
Image 5 of 21A large crack developed across a road outside Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption. (Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
![A large crack developed across a road outside Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption.]()
Image 6 of 21A large crack developed across a road outside Grindavik in Iceland amid fears of a volcanic eruption. (Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
![Crews inspect a road after a large crack appeared amid fears that a volcano will erupt there soon.]()
Image 7 of 21Crews inspect a road after a large crack appeared amid fears that a volcano will erupt there soon. (Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
![GRINDAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 12: Children bring food to police and emergency workers outside Grindavik on November 12, 2023 in Grindavik, Iceland. Iceland has declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes with authorities ordering thousands of people to leave the southwestern town of Grindavík as a precaution.The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) has said there was a considerable risk of a volcanic eruption. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images)]()
Image 8 of 21GRINDAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 12: Children bring food to police and emergency workers outside Grindavik on November 12, 2023 in Grindavik, Iceland. Iceland has declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes with authorities ordering thousands of people to leave the southwestern town of Grindavík as a precaution.The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) has said there was a considerable risk of a volcanic eruption. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images) ( )
![GRINDAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 12: Emergency workers outside Grindavik on November 12, 2023 in Grindavik, Iceland. Iceland has declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes with authorities ordering thousands of people to leave the southwestern town of Grindavík as a precaution.The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) has said there was a considerable risk of a volcanic eruption. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images)]()
Image 9 of 21GRINDAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 12: Emergency workers outside Grindavik on November 12, 2023 in Grindavik, Iceland. Iceland has declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes with authorities ordering thousands of people to leave the southwestern town of Grindavík as a precaution.The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) has said there was a considerable risk of a volcanic eruption. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images) ( )
![GRINDAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 12: Hanna Evensen from Cat Shelter waited over five hours at a check point to rescue some of the 59 cats left in Grindavik, but was refused entry by the police on November 12, 2023 in Grindavik, Iceland. Iceland has declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes with authorities ordering thousands of people to leave the southwestern town of Grindavík as a precaution.The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) has said there was a considerable risk of a volcanic eruption. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images)]()
Image 10 of 21GRINDAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 12: Hanna Evensen from Cat Shelter waited over five hours at a check point to rescue some of the 59 cats left in Grindavik, but was refused entry by the police on November 12, 2023 in Grindavik, Iceland. Iceland has declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes with authorities ordering thousands of people to leave the southwestern town of Grindavík as a precaution.The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) has said there was a considerable risk of a volcanic eruption. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images) ( )
![GRINDAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 12: Emergency workers outside Grindavik on November 12, 2023 in Grindavik, Iceland. Iceland has declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes with authorities ordering thousands of people to leave the southwestern town of Grindavík as a precaution.The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) has said there was a considerable risk of a volcanic eruption. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images)]()
Image 11 of 21GRINDAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 12: Emergency workers outside Grindavik on November 12, 2023 in Grindavik, Iceland. Iceland has declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes with authorities ordering thousands of people to leave the southwestern town of Grindavík as a precaution.The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) has said there was a considerable risk of a volcanic eruption. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images) ( )
![REYKJAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 12: Officials with Almannavarnir, the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, hold a press conference on November 12, 2023 in Reykjavik, Iceland. The country has declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes around the Fagradalsfjall volcano in recent weeks, prompting worries of a potential eruption. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images)]()
Image 12 of 21REYKJAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 12: Officials with Almannavarnir, the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, hold a press conference on November 12, 2023 in Reykjavik, Iceland. The country has declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes around the Fagradalsfjall volcano in recent weeks, prompting worries of a potential eruption. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images) ( )
![GRINDAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 12: The road to Grindavik is closed by the police on November 12, 2023 in Grindavik, Iceland. The country has declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes around the Fagradalsfjall volcano in recent weeks, prompting worries of a potential eruption. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images)]()
Image 13 of 21GRINDAVIK, ICELAND - NOVEMBER 12: The road to Grindavik is closed by the police on November 12, 2023 in Grindavik, Iceland. The country has declared a state of emergency after a series of earthquakes around the Fagradalsfjall volcano in recent weeks, prompting worries of a potential eruption. (Photo by Micah Garen/Getty Images) ( )
![The golf course in Grindavík is experiencing significant cracking from earthquakes.]()
Image 14 of 21The golf course in Grindavík is experiencing significant cracking from earthquakes. (RÚV)
![The golf course in Grindavík is experiencing significant cracking from earthquakes.]()
Image 15 of 21The golf course in Grindavík is experiencing significant cracking from earthquakes. (RÚV)
![The golf course in Grindavík is experiencing significant cracking from earthquakes.]()
Image 16 of 21The golf course in Grindavík is experiencing significant cracking from earthquakes. (RÚV)
![The golf course in Grindavík is experiencing significant cracking from earthquakes.]()
Image 17 of 21The golf course in Grindavík is experiencing significant cracking from earthquakes. (RÚV)
![The golf course in Grindavík is experiencing significant cracking from earthquakes.]()
Image 18 of 21The golf course in Grindavík is experiencing significant cracking from earthquakes. (RÚV)
![Numerous seismographs have been installed by a team of geologists from the University of Iceland.]()
Image 19 of 21Numerous seismographs have been installed by a team of geologists from the University of Iceland. (Raul Moreno/SOPA Images/LightRocket)
![A city street of Grindavik with Thorbjöm mountain in the background. Iceland is preparing for another volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula.]()
Image 20 of 21A city street of Grindavik with Thorbjöm mountain in the background. Iceland is preparing for another volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula. (Raul Moreno/SOPA Images/LightRocket)
![The access road to Blue Lagoon has been closed to avoid incidents in the area in the event of a possible volcanic eruption.]()
Image 21 of 21The access road to Blue Lagoon has been closed to avoid incidents in the area in the event of a possible volcanic eruption. (Raul Moreno/SOPA Images/LightRocket)
Thousands of earthquakes have occurred along an approximately 9-mile-long magma tunnel, or dike, just below the Earth’s surface.
The most recent earthquake activity in the area has been found along the southern portions of the magma corridor between Sundhnúk and Grindavík at a depth of about 1.25 miles to 3.1 miles.
In addition, the IMO reported that a graben-like formation of about 3 feet now slices through parts of Grindavík due to the magma intrusion.
An image showing the vertical movement of the earth in Grindavík and its surrounding area.
The USGS defines a graben as a piece of the Earth’s crust that has shifted downward in comparison to adjacent crust known as horsts which are shifted upward.
The IMO added that after analyzing data it appears that the greatest area of magma upwelling is sourced closer to Sundhnúk, a little more than 2 miles to the north-northeast of Grindavík.
WHEN AN EARTHQUAKE CAUSED THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO FLOW BACKWARDS
No more residents allowed back inside Grindavik
Watch: Iceland town evacuated due to fears of volcanic eruption
An evacuation was ordered in the Icelandic town of Grindavik after a significant rise in earthquake activity that officials said showed that there was a
Police allowed some residents to return to an eastern district of Grindavík on Sunday to gather what they could before being escorted back to safety.
More areas of the town were open to residents earlier on Monday before the decision was made to let all residents back inside the town to gather essential belongings, pets and vehicles that may have been left behind during the initial evacuation, according to national public service broadcaster RÚV.
Emergency officials said Grindavík was closed to residents at 4 p.m. local time (11 a.m. EST), and there would only be 30 minutes for those residents who returned to get out of the area.
Traffic into the town was an issue on Monday, and that forced local officials to urge patience while residents waited their turn to enter.
It was also recommended to not return home if there wasn’t a need, and if a return home was necessary, only one person per household would be allowed to return.
WHAT ARE THE 4 CLASSIC TYPES OF VOLCANOES?
Large cracks form in roads
Crews inspect a road after a large crack appeared amid fears that a volcano will erupt there soon.
(Facebook.com/Vegagerdin)
With earthquakes continuously rattling the region, large cracks have formed across major roads that have forced officials to close them to traffic.
The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration shared several photos on Facebook of the destruction caused to roadways as a result of the earthquakes.
WHAT ARE THE LARGEST EARTHQUAKES TO STRIKE THE US?
Watch: Large cracks form across road in Iceland amid fears of volcanic eruption
Video recorded outside Grindavik in Iceland show large cracks that formed across a road amid fears that a volcanic eruption may be imminent.
They show large cracks and holes surrounded by traffic cones, and crews inspecting the area to determine the extent of the damage.
Video from the area shows portions of a road outside of Grindavík that were swallowed by the earth. The person behind the camera then bravely gets a closer look to show a better look at the damage and zooms in to see how deep the hole beneath the road actually is.
Iceland has the highest number of active volcanic systems in Europe, with more than 30 currently active.