Iceland braces for volcanic eruption

The people of Iceland are bracing for what could be the country’s most devastating volcanic eruption in 50 years, with a small fishing town at risk of being destroyed


ICELAND
Detail area


Keflavik International Airport
Keflavik

Estimated position of magma tunnel

Blue Lagoon
Geothermal spa shut after series of earthquakes

Reykjavik
Kopavogur 
Hafnarfjordur
Reykjanes peninsula
Fagradalsfjall volcano
Kleifarvatn Lake
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Reykjanesfolkvangur nature reserve
5km 3 miles

Grundavik: Fishing town of more than 3,000 residents evacuated due to risk of magma reaching surface


Nov 2023: Experts say eruption could happen at any point along tunnel of magma, or molten rock, estimated to be 15km long and 800m below surface

Recent activity: Fagradalsfjall volcanic system remained dormant for 800 years prior to 2021 eruption. Further eruptions occurred in Aug 2022 and July 2023

Sources: Bloomberg, Reuters
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