Iceland - possible eruption due near the Blue Lagoon

[KenAdams]

Is anyone following this?

https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/news/2023/11/03/coming_close_to_an_eruption/

The main concern is the power plant next to the lagoon.

There are constant mini eruptions happening too - https://vafri.is/quake/

Any websites in English for those of us wanting to learn more?
I can see that live feed now is the power station lights.

It's the Vísir live updates. I think they've changed the top picture now. No lava above ground yet. If you scroll down you can see all kinds of maps and little videos of people being alarmed by earthquakes.

There's no telling how long it will last if it does erupt. The 2021 eruption lasted many months, the next two were over quicker. I've not seen any scientists talking about that yet - it's all about if and when and where the lava might break the surface. They think it might be powerful though, I remember.

Reykjavík Grapevine has some updates in English.
https://grapevine.is/

Thank you. Obviously very concerning for anyone living there but my brain has found it super interesting.

Google Translate rather helpfully popped up on my laptop and let me choose to translate Icelandic into English.

Thanks, I need to learn google translate more. I’ve just seen the mandatory evacuation was issued and this website is where they were directed. Although it states it’s not an emergency evacuation requiring 30mins, but expecting 2-3hours for the town to be empty.

https://reykjanes.almannavarnir.is/en

The latest alert is talking about tremor, which is different from earthquakes I think, and refers to rhythmic shaking and harmonics associated with an impending eruption. I'm just looking it up online, I don't understand any of it.

The same,mi would like to understand the earthquakes etc. Reading the grapevine updates it seems they went from not concern at 7:30pm to telling everyone to leave at 11:25pm

Iceland is such a lovely place, I had the pleasure of visiting in 2009. Sincerely hoping everyone is able to stay safe. I read a book called The Fires earlier this year, set in the same area as this eruption, it was excellent. Translated into English, I can’t remember the author now but it was a great read, the eruption was more explosive though. Thanks to everyone sharing local knowledge, it’s truly fascinating.

There’s a Facebook group called “Iceland Geology - Seismic & Volcanic Activity in Iceland” which has a lot of info on the science / geology side of things, mostly in English, if you’re interested. (It’s pretty technical as they’re geologists, which I am very much not, but I’ve found it really interesting).

https://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/a-seismic-swarm-started-north-of-grindavik-last-night

The Met Office has updates in English.

This is where I get a lot of information from. You have to sift through a few scaremongering posts but the geologists quickly put them right!

This site shows quakes - https://vafri.is/quake/

That latest update does suggest there is potentially more risk to Grindavík than they had previously thought.

I used to be in that group but I found it became unbearable during the actual 2021 eruption. Just people scolding each other and flying off the handle. I suppose that's Facebook for you. I once asked, out of interest, how long after an eruption it takes until lava is safe to walk on and received a barrage of abuse as though I had suggested hiking right up to the crater the next day. I agree the actual science in there is good, though, but it does get a bit hysterical!

This is very interesting, but it must be worrying for the locals. I hope all stay safe.

Are there any updates on how things are progressing, or receding maybe? The webcam images look a bit calmer than last night, but images can be deceiving to those not on the ground.

They are now talking about the possibility that the lava could extend out under the sea and erupt there. This would be a completely different scenario because you'd get an explosive eruption with an ash cloud. Could be very disruptive for aeroplanes and cause other problems but maybe a better alternative than lava in town.

Everyone is safely out of Grindavík, people and animals. Either with family and friends or at emergency shelters in Reykjanesbær, Kópavogur and Selfoss. People who have space are offering temporary accommodation but it must be very difficult for them. I hope they will be able to safely return to their homes as soon as possible.

Even if the eruption does happen over the sea, I’m guessing there will always be a magma tunnel now under the town and does that mean no long term in habitation? Iceland is so interesting.

Visited Iceland earlier this year and loved it. Volcanoes are fascinating - went to the Lava Show and learnt so much. But really feel for the people in Grindavik - hope they get to go back to their homes untouched. Now the magma tunnel has extended out to sea if it erupts it will be ash which could be an issue as before for aviation. Quakes in the area have quietened down a bit which is often a precursor for an eruption 😢.

I'm not sure - I mean the whole peninsula is extremely volcanic so there are old fissures and craters and lava tunnels absolutely everywhere so I don't know if that makes a difference. It's several kilometres deep so I don't think the ground would collapse or anything.

People did return to Heimaey after 1973, but many never did after the trauma and lived on the mainland for the rest of their lives. They were given new housing I believe.

i have family due to fly to Iceland on Thursday…what would people advise?

Why does a lava eruption at sea cause ash, whereas an eruption on land would not?

Forgive my ignorance, probably has something to do with the way lava interracts with the water/terrain.

Not sure I would tbh... you might potentially get stuck here. But keep an eye on things and make the final decision last minute if possible. If there's an eruption on land it should be fine for the airport. If it happens in the sea probably not. If there's no eruption obviously that's fine.

The situation might be a lot clearer in a few days.

I would think uk gov will issue travel advice soon if any concerns about flight disruption?

thanks puffin for updates.