Iceland was rattled by a swarm of over 700 earthquakes on Sunday, November 26th, sparking fears that the intense seismic activity could be signaling an imminent volcanic eruption. The quakes, centered around the Reykjanes Peninsula just southwest of the capital city Reykjavik, are occurring along a major tectonic plate boundary where the North American and Eurasian plates are diverging. This geological activity makes Iceland one of the most volcanically active places on Earth.
The strongest quake detected was a 5.0 magnitude tremor located near the evacuated town of Grindavik early Monday morning, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office. While the majority of quakes have been relatively small, their sheer number and frequency are cause for concern.
Over 300 tremors occurred on Sunday alone, including a sustained earthquake storm lasting over an hour right before midnight. Areas like Reykjanes Peninsula are at high risk for volcanic eruptions due to significant underground magma movement.
Authorities have warned that the intense earthquake swarm likely signifies rising magma injecting itself into faults and cracks underground. This builds pressure that can be released in an eruption, although specifics on timing and location remain unclear. The Icelandic Meteorological Office said there is "persistent likelihood of an imminent eruption" given the unusual relentless seismic activity.
For now, scientists vigilantly monitor key volcanoes for signs of impending eruption while emergency management teams prepare contingency plans. Officials have warned residents in the region to review evacuation procedures, as several small towns like Grindavik could be in immediate danger in the case of an eruption.