Ten earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 3 have been detected since midnight last night, according to the latest data from the Icelandic Meteorological Office. Surprisingly, none of this was located near Fagradalsfjall – but they have all been located right at the southwestern tip of the Reykjanes peninsula.
In fact, the last recorded earthquake near Fagradalsfjall of magnitude 3 or larger at the time of writing was around 11:20 yesterday morning. The location of the new earthquakes is at the main fault lines, Reykjaneshrygg, which strongly indicates continued seismic activity. Elísabet Pálmadóttir at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, however, warned it can not be connected this latest activity with continued activity near Fagradalsfjall.
Although the reduction in earthquakes has given people reason to relax, said Kristín Jónsdóttir, an expert at the Icelandic Meteorological Office RÚV that reduced seismic activity can also precede an eruption.
She points out that increased earthquakes following a quiet time were in fact exactly what was seen when Krafla, near Mývatn in northern Iceland, last erupted. As such, it is still far too early to say that the eruption in Reykjanes is no longer on the maps.
Read more about the situation in Reykjanes and a possible scenario that could play out in our latest story about earthquakes and volcanoes in Reykjanes.
Source: The Nordic Page
