Iceland earthquakes – live: Volcano eruption could happen ‘within hours’ as thousands evacuate Grindavik

An Icelandic volcano could erupt in ‘hours or days’, experts have warned, as 3,000 residents have been evacuated from the southwestern town of Grindavik.

After 1,485 earthquakes have rocked the country over the past 48 hours, Iceland residents are bracing themselves for the eruption of Fagradalsfjall volcano.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office said there was a “considerable” risk of an eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula due to the size of the underground magma intrusion and the rate at which it was moving.

“I don’t think it’s long before an eruption, hours or a few days. The chance of an eruption has increased significantly,” Thorvaldur Thordarson, professor of volcanology at the University of Iceland, told state broadcaster RUV.

The UK have ramped up its advice to British travellers, saying it is “increasingly possible” that a volcanic eruption could occur.

However, they advise: “Keflavik International Airport is operating as normal. While there is no current eruption, it is increasingly possible that one could occur. You should monitor local media for updates and follow the authorities advice on travel to the area.”

Key Points

• What earthquakes have there been in Iceland?

• Is there a risk of a volcanic eruption?

• Could flights be grounded?

• Thousands told to evacuate amid fears of volcanic eruption

What are your rights if you are on holiday or are planning to go?

18:00 , Lydia Patrick

The earth is at its most restless in Iceland right now. The Reykjanes peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik, is seething with seismic activity sparking hundreds of small earthquakes.

The town of Grindavík, just 10 miles south of Keflavik International Airport, has been evacuated as a precaution.

Yet flights are continuing to arrive and depart as normal. These are the key questions and answers on consumer rights.

Iceland earthquakes: Your rights if you are on holiday there or are planning to go

Mapped - Where were the Iceland earthquakes?

17:00 , Lydia Patrick

Icelandic Explore shares photos of past eruptions

16:00 , Lydia Patrick

Iceland earthquakes: What are your rights if you are on holiday or are planning to go?

15:30 , Lydia Patrick

The earth is at its most restless in Iceland right now. The Reykjanes peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik, is seething with seismic activity sparking hundreds of small earthquakes.

The town of Grindavík, just 10 miles south of Keflavik International Airport, has been evacuated as a precaution.

Yet flights are continuing to arrive and depart as normal. These are the key questions and answers on consumer rights.

Iceland earthquakes: Your rights if you are on holiday there or are planning to go

Eruption could be ‘hours or days'

14:49 , Lydia Patrick

Icelandic authorities have completed the evacuation of 3,000 residents of a town in the southwest of the island over concerns of a volcanic eruption after a series of earthquakes and evidence of magma spreading underground.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office said on Saturday there was a “considerable” risk of an eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula because the size of the underground magma intrusion and the rate at which it was moving.

“I don’t think it’s long before an eruption, hours or a few days. The chance of an eruption has increased significantly,” Thorvaldur Thordarson, professor of volcanology at the University of Iceland, told state broadcaster RUV.

Iceland‘s Civil Protection Agency overnight ordered a complete evacuation of Grindavik, a nearby fishing town, although it emphasized this was not an emergency evacuation.

Mapped: Iceland earthquake locations revealed as volcano eruption alert issued

14:30 , Lydia Patrick

Iceland is experiencing a seismic swarm as 1,485 earthquakes have hit the country in just 48 hours prompting fears of a volcanic eruption.

Most tremours have been felt in the Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest of the country where small earthquakes have been felt every day for more than two weeks due to a build-up of volcanic magma three miles underground.

Thousands have been told to evacuate the town of Grindavik as a precautionary measure as a magma tunnel stretches below the surface.

The UK foreign office has updated its travel advice, warning that a volcanic eruption is increasingly likely.

Mapped: Iceland earthquake locations revealed as volcano eruption alert issued

Experts warn of the growing warning of a volcano

13:30 , Lydia Patrick

Iceland earthquakes: Are flights still running amid fears of volcano eruption?

12:30 , Lydia Patrick

Iceland has declared a state of emergency as hundreds of earthquakes struck the southwestern Reykjanes peninsula in the past 48 hours.

Despite fears of an impending volcanic eruption, flights from the UK to Keflavik international airport 10 miles north of the eruption site are going ahead as usual.

The first of 14 scheduled flights on Saturday from the UK took off without incident from London’s Luton Airport at 6.32am and landed at 9.33am at Keflavik international airport, about 10 miles north of the eruption site.

The 7.40am flight from Manchester airport also safely arrived at Keflavik international airport at 10.30am.

Iceland earthquakes: Are flights still running amid fears over volcano eruption?

Foreign Office steps up warning to British travellers

11:53 , Lydia Patrick

The Foreign Office has just updated its advice to British travellers, saying it is “increasingly possible” that a volcanic eruption could occur.

The official warning on “volcanic eruption and earthquakes” reads: “Earthquakes and indications of volcanic activity have increased above normal levels on the Reykjanes peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik.

“The Icelandic authorities continue to monitor the area closely, particularly the area northwest of Mt Thorbjörn near the Svartsengi power plant and the Blue Lagoon.

On 10 November, a Civil Protection Alert was declared after an intense swarm of earthquakes.

“The town of Grindavík was evacuated as a precaution. Some roads have been closed and visitors are advised to stay away from the area.

“Keflavik International Airport is operating as normal. While there is no current eruption, it is increasingly possible that one could occur.

“You should monitor local media for updates and follow the authorities advice on travel to the area.”

The advice stops well short of advising against travel to Iceland, meaning airlines and holiday companies are operating as normal – with no automatic right to cancel.

Magma tunnel lies under Grindavík

11:34 , Lydia Patrick

A professor of geophysics says the magma tunnel under Grindavík has reached its full width, report Ríkisútvarpið is Iceland’s national public-service broadcasting organization.

He told RUV: ““We have no idea how big the eruption would be if it did happen. There is nothing certain about the subject. There is great uncertainty as to how big it will be on the surface and where exactly it would erupt if it did.”

ICYMI - Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon spa temporarily shuts down over volcanic threat

10:35 , Lydia Patrick

Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon spa has temporarily shut down, one week after a series of earthquakes led guests to vacate the hotel.

The Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa southwest of Reykjavík, will reportedly be closed until 16 November due to a series of earthquakes that hit the region after midnight on 2 November. The earthquakes were followed by tremors, alarming enough for 40 guests at the spa to reportedly leave the resort’s premises.

In a statement posted to its website, the spa explained: “The primary reason for taking these precautionary measures is our unwavering commitment to safety and wellbeing. We aim to mitigate any disruption to our guests’ experiences and alleviate the sustained pressure on our employees.”

Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon spa temporarily shuts down over volcanic threat

UK Foreign Office travel advice unchanged

10:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Foreign Office advice is regarded by the UK travel industry as the arbiter of whether or not a destination is safe.

Were the FCDO to warn against travel to parts of Iceland, holidaymakers already there would be moved and no further departures would operate to those areas.

The Foreign Office last updated its travel advice on Tuesday 7 November. At the time, the FCDO warned: “Earthquake and indications of volcanic activity have increased above normal levels on the Rekjanes peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik.

“The Icelandic authorities continue to monitor the area closely, particularly the area northwest of Mt Thorbjörn near the Svartsengi power plant and the Blue Lagoon.

“Although there is no current eruption, it is possible that one could occur. You should monitor local media for updates and follow the authorities advice on travel to the area.”

Road between Grindavik and Reykjanesbraut shut due to a large crack

09:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

The road between Grindavik and Reykjanesbraut has been closed due to the formation of a large crack, MP Gisli Olafsson said on social media.

Earthquake interrupts Grindavik mayor’s interview

09:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

All routes to Grindavik shut

08:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

All routes to Grindavik are closed except for emergencies, the Icelandic authorities said on Saturday.

People must report to the closure posts, Iceland Roads said in a post on social media.

Nearly 4,000 people of the small Grindavik town have been told to evacuate amid fears of a volcanic eruption following a series of earthquakes that struck the country over the past 48 hours.

Iceland’s National Police Commissioner on Friday declared a state of emergency for civil defence.

Pictures: Area affected by earthquakes

08:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Here are some of the latest photos of the area in iceland affected by earthquakes:

Are flights still operating?

07:45 , Simon Calder

Keflavik international airport is about 10 miles north of the eruption site.

The first of 14 scheduled flights today from the UK took off from Luton airport at 6.32am. The plane is operated by easyJet and is due to touch down at Keflavik international airport, about 10 miles north of the eruption site, at around 9.10am.

A spokesperson for easyJet said: “Our flying schedule is currently operating as normal however we are monitoring the situation closely and should this change we will contact customers directly to advise on their flights.”

The remaining 13 are on airlines including British Airways, easyJet, Icelandair and Wizz Air are all flying to Keflavik. Nine are from London, three from Manchester and one each from Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Another flight from London Gatwick airport to Iceland’s northern city, Akureyri, about 200 miles from the seismic activity, is due to arrive shortly after 10am.

Earthquake interrupts Grindavik mayor’s interview

07:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Earthquakes in Iceland prompt fears of volcano eruption

07:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

A geothermal spa that is one of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions has closed temporarily after a series of earthquakes caused alarm over a potential volcanic eruption.

Shortly before 1am, a magnitude 4.8 quake, the strongest to hit the region since the recent wave of seismic activity began last month, hit the country’s most populous region.

Guests woken up by the quake rushed to leave the hotels at the Blue Lagoon spa.

At one hotel, where lava rocks had fallen on the road and the car park was jammed with 20 to 30 taxis, driver Bjarni Stefansson described a scene of confusion.

“There was a panic situation,” Mr Stefansson said. “People thought a volcanic eruption was about to happen.”

Jane Dalton reports.

Earthquakes in Iceland prompt fears of volcano eruption

Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon spa temporarily shuts down over volcanic threat

07:00 , Athena Stavrou

Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon spa has temporarily shut down, one week after a series of earthquakes led guests to vacate the hotel.

The Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa southwest of Reykjavík, will reportedly be closed until 16 November due to a series of earthquakes that hit the region after midnight on 2 November.

In a statement posted to its website, the spa explained: “The primary reason for taking these precautionary measures is our unwavering commitment to safety and wellbeing. We aim to mitigate any disruption to our guests’ experiences and alleviate the sustained pressure on our employees.”

Read more:

Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon spa temporarily shuts down over volcanic threat

Iceland jolted by 24,000 tremors since late October

06:21 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Nearly 24,000 tremors have been registered on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwestern Iceland since late October, the Icelandic Met Office (IMO) said.

.A “dense swarm” of nearly 800 quakes were registered between midnight and 2pm GMT on Friday, which has raised fears of a volcanic eruption.

The met office noted an accumulation of magma underground at a depth of about 5km.“The most likely scenario is that it will take several days rather than hours for magma to reach the surface,” it said.

“If a fissure were to appear where the seismic activity is at its highest now, lava would flow to the southeast and to the west, but not towards Grindavik.”

Foreign Office travel advice unchanged

06:00 , Simon Calder

Foreign Office advice is regarded by the UK travel industry as the arbiter of whether or not a destination is safe.

Were the FCDO to warn against travel to parts of Iceland, holidaymakers already there would be moved and no further departures would operate to those areas.

The Foreign Office last updated its travel advice on Tuesday 7 November. At the time, the FCDO warned: “Earthquake and indications of volcanic activity have increased above normal levels on the Rekjanes peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik.

“The Icelandic authorities continue to monitor the area closely, particularly the area northwest of Mt Thorbjörn near the Svartsengi power plant and the Blue Lagoon.

“Although there is no current eruption, it is possible that one could occur. You should monitor local media for updates and follow the authorities advice on travel to the area.”

Thousands told to evacuate amid fears of volcanic eruption

05:55 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Icelandic authorities have ordered thousands of people living in the town of Grindavik to evacuate as a precaution due to fears of a volcanic eruption.

Iceland’s National Police Commissioner declared a state of emergency for civil defence after 1,485 earthquakes hit the country in the last 48 hours.

The country's Civil Protection Agency told residents to leave the town, while urging them to “remain calm" as it was not an "emergency evacuation".

"There is no immediate danger imminent, the evacuation is primarily preventive with the safety of all Grindavik residents as the principal aim," it said.

The village of Grindavik is home to about 4,000 people and is located 3km south-west of the area where Friday’s earthquake swarm was registered.

All the roads into the town, except for emergencies, have been shut.

Is seismic activity common in Iceland?

03:30 , Athena Stavrou

Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, averages an eruption every four to five years.

The most disruptive in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed so much ash into the atmosphere that airspaces over Europe were closed.

Actually, on average, Iceland experiences around 500 earthquakes a week, or about 26000 every year.

Defences being built around power plant

02:00 , Athena Stavrou

Iceland’s National broadcaster RÚV reports that trucks are on site to build defences around a power plant near the town of Grindavík.

They report that defences will be 4 km long and six to eight metres tall, according to the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management.

Road split in two by seismic activity

00:30 , Athena Stavrou

A road between Grindavik and Reykjanesbraut in Iceland has been closed by the police due to damage.

Dramatic pictures show a large crack in the road following earthquakes in the area in recent days.

Iceland volcano eruption could be ‘hours or days’, meteorologist warns

17:30 , Lydia Patrick

Iceland is bracing itself for a volcanic eruption that will arrive within ‘hours or days’, experts have warned.

Around 3,000 residents have evacuated the southwestern town of Grindavik close to the Fagradalsfjall volcanic system in the Reykjanes region.

Over the past 48 hours, Iceland has faced a seismic swarm as 1,485 earthquakes have hit the country. In addition to that a magma tunnel is forming underground beneath the town, which South Iceland’s Volcano and Natural Hazard’s group believe could be 12km long.

The UK foreign office has updated its travel advice, warning that a volcanic eruption is increasingly likely, but they have not warned against travel with flights still touching down at Keflavík International Airport.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office said on Saturday there was a “considerable” risk of an eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula because the size of the underground magma intrusion and the rate at which it was moving.

Iceland volcano eruption could be ‘hours or days’, meteorologist warns

Video shows earthquake tremors in Iceland

Friday 10 November 2023 23:00 , Athena Stavrou

This video is from a home in Grindavík , the city closest to the intense seismic activity underway in Iceland at the moment.

Magma tunnel to surface of crater forming

Friday 10 November 2023 21:58 , Athena Stavrou

Iceland’s National Police Commissioner has said there is the “greatest likelihood” that lava will emerge at the Sundhnúkar crater.

They said in a social media update: “Very clear signs now appear on the Meteorological Agency’s meter about the formation of mercury to the surface.

“Onward there is the greatest likelihood that a lava will emerge north of the water reservoir at Sundhnúkar and therefore lava will not flow to Grindavík in accordance with the lava flow that was driven earlier tonight.

“More information is not available at the moment but will be updated as it is available.”

14 flights from the UK to Iceland scheduled for Saturday

Friday 10 November 2023 21:00 , Simon Calder

Iceland is increasing popular as a destination for British holidaymakers. On Saturday alone, 14 flights are due to arrive in Reykjavik from the UK.

Nine are from London, three from Manchester and one each from Edinburgh and Glasgow. Five airlines are involved: British Airways, easyJet, Icelandair, Play (a new Icelandic carrier) and Wizz Air.

At present flights are scheduled to operate as normal, according to Flightradar24. Anyone choosing to cancel is likely to lose most or all of the fare.

A new easyJet route to Akureyri in northern Iceland opened this week. The city is nearly 200 miles from the site of the latest seismic activity.

At this time of year many British and American travellers are tempting by the Northern Lights, which are at a peak of the usual 11-year cycle.

Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon spa temporarily shuts down over volcanic threat

Friday 10 November 2023 20:23 , Athena Stavrou

Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon spa has temporarily shut down, one week after a series of earthquakes led guests to vacate the hotel.

The Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa southwest of Reykjavík, will reportedly be closed until 16 November due to a series of earthquakes that hit the region after midnight on 2 November.

In a statement posted to its website, the spa explained: “The primary reason for taking these precautionary measures is our unwavering commitment to safety and wellbeing. We aim to mitigate any disruption to our guests’ experiences and alleviate the sustained pressure on our employees.”

Read more:

Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon spa temporarily shuts down over volcanic threat

What is the Blue Lagoon?

Friday 10 November 2023 20:07 , Simon Calder

The Blue Lagoon is a steamy bathing complex of volcanic lava pools that calls itself “one of the 25 wonders of the world”.

The pools are filled with water from a nearby geothermal power station. The turquoise hue of the water is acquired from the algae that share the pools with the tourists.

The Blue Lagoon is an increasingly popular “wellness” destination, with an upmarket hotel on the site. Day visitors are welcome, too: for around £50 you get admission to the Blue Lagoon, a silica mud mask and a drink.

The Blue Lagoon is best visited in the depths of winter when steam rises from the warm water. Keflavik International Airport is only 10 miles away, with regular buses. During a stopover en route between Europe and North America it is easy to make a side trip to the Blue Lagoon.

Iceland has many more thermal springs around the country – including in Reykjavik – and prices are generally much lower.

Aviation colour code orange

Friday 10 November 2023 19:52 , Athena Stavrou

The aviation colour code - which informs the aviation sector about a volcano’s status - is now orange over Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula.

An orange code means a volcano is exhibiting heightened unrest with an increased likelihood of eruption.

Eruptions are tourism opportunities, says Iceland travel expert

Friday 10 November 2023 19:35 , Simon Calder

Volcanic eruptions in Iceland are generally regarded as harmless – and interesting, if temporary, tourist attractions.

Clive Stacey, founder of specialist operator Discover the World, has been sending British tourists to Iceland for decades.

His company operates a “volcano hotline”. He told The Independent: “If there are eruptions in Iceland, and they’re safe, and worth going to see, then we organise special trips. Often they only last for a very short time, so we take people over as soon as the eruption happens.

“It really isn’t dangerous. They take all the correct precautions. They look after tourists very, very well.”

Could flights be grounded?

Friday 10 November 2023 19:25 , Simon Calder

The affected area is very close to the main international airport, Keflavik, which is at the end of the southwestern Reykjanes Peninsula where the activity is taking place.

Many travellers will remember where they were March 2010, when the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull erupted.

The skies of northern Europe completely closed to passenger aviation for almost a week because of fears that volcanic ash spreading southeast from Iceland could damage aircraft engines and endanger travellers.

More than 50,000 flights, with eight million passengers booked to travel, were cancelled. At the time it as the worst crisis in European aviation since the 9/11 attacks.

The following days were characterised by stories of travellers desperate to get home – and growing frustration at what was increasingly seen as a gross overreaction to a vanishingly small threat. Iceland’s main airport remained open for much of the time.

Is there a risk of a volcanic eruption?

Friday 10 November 2023 19:23 , Athena Stavrou

Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, averages an eruption every four to five years.

The most disruptive in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed so much ash into the atmosphere that airspaces over Europe were closed.

Iceland’s National Police Commissioner declared a state of emergency for Civil Defence in a statement that reads: “Earthquakes can become larger than those that have occurred and this sequence of events could lead to an eruption.

“However, there are no signs yet that the magma is seeking the surface. The progress is closely monitored.”

What earthquakes have there been in Iceland?

Friday 10 November 2023 19:21 , Athena Stavrou

Iceland’s National Police Commissioner declared a state of emergency for Civil Defence after 1,485 earthquakes have hit the country in the last 48 hours.

According to information from the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO), seismic activity in the area has increased significantly since 3pm on Friday.

The IMO said an earthquake of 5.0 magnitude — the largest since seismic activity began on October 25 — was measured by Fagradalsfjall, a volcano located about 19 miles from the capital city of Reykjavik.

The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa — one of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions — closed temporarily as it felt the tremors of one of the quakes.

What earthquakes have there been in Iceland?

Friday 10 November 2023 21:46 , Athena Stavrou

Iceland’s National Police Commissioner declared a state of emergency for Civil Defence after 1,485 earthquakes have hit the country in the 48 hours from Friday evening.

According to information from the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO), seismic activity in the area has increased significantly since 3pm on Friday.

The IMO said an earthquake of 5.0 magnitude — the largest since seismic activity began on October 25 — was measured by Fagradalsfjall, a volcano located about 19 miles from the capital city of Reykjavik.

The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa — one of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions — closed temporarily as it felt the tremors of one of the quakes.