State Of Emergency: Iceland Evacuates Grindavik After Increase Of Seismic Activity Near Volcano

Iceland has evacuated Grindavik, which has a population of 4,000 after a series of earthquakes hit near its volcano, indicating a possible eruption.

GRINDAVIK - Iceland has evacuated Grindavik, which has a population of 4,000 after a series of earthquakes hit near its volcano, indicating a possible eruption. Almost 800 earthquakes were recorded within a 14-hour time frame around the location. Live Cam Feeds: Live Cam 1 | Live Cam 2.

Iceland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement saying, "The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management has declared an Emergency/Distress Phase on the Reykjanes peninsula, due to increased seismic activity.  All residents of Grindavík are obliged to evacuate the town.

Since late October Iceland has had around 24,000 tremors on the Reykjanes peninsula which indicates that an eruption could be imminent.

The Government of Iceland continues to monitor the situation in close collaboration with the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management and the Icelandic Meteorological Office."

The Svartsengi geothermal plant is also located in the area, which supplies electricity and water to about 30,000 people, but has contingency plans in place in case of service disruption due to a volcanic eruption. 

The Iceland Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management said, "The national police chief … declares a state of emergency for civil defence due to the intense earthquake [activity] at Sundhnjukagigar, north of Grindavik". 

The department added that “Earthquakes can become larger than those that have occurred and this series of events could lead to an eruption".

Iceland Government: Seismic activity in Reykjanes

(Statements translated) There is an ongoing Emergency/Distress Phase on the Reykjanes peninsula, due to seismic activity. Read more: