Overview

• Iceland has declared a state of emergency and evacuated the town of Grindavík due to fears of a volcanic eruption, following a series of earthquakes and magma movement.
• The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) has recorded thousands of tremors around the nearby Fagradalsfjall volcano in recent weeks, indicating large amounts of magma spreading underground.
• The increased seismic activity prompted the closure of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, a popular tourist destination, as a precautionary measure.
• The IMO has stated that the amount of magma involved is significantly more than what was observed in the largest magma intrusions associated with previous eruptions at Fagradalsfjall.
• Despite the evacuation, the Civil Protection Agency emphasized that there is no immediate danger and the evacuation is primarily preventive, with the safety of Grindavík residents as the main aim.