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/

DS is going in July. Will be keeping a close eye on what Mother Nature is up to.

The trouble is people don't know because the official line from the Blue Lagoon is that it's safe and they'd never take any risks with the safety of customers or employees (despite the fact that one employee was already in hospital with gas poisoning 🤔).

And the police say they can make the decision for themselves, though they don't exactly support it. It's all about the money 🤑

I mean yeah it's fine if the wind is blowing the right way. And I assume they'll at least be basing opening times on the weather forecast. Though we all know the wind can change.

It's more employees' health I'd be concerned about, with potentially repeated exposure to unhealthy levels.

Geology prof Shawn Willsey discussing the latest development: (just click the Watch on Youtube link)

There's some incredible footage at the moment.

This one is still going. I'm struggling to work out scale though - anyone know how big the crater is?

Isak tried to estimate it the other day using his drone. It was around 23 meters high! Then last night here's a screen cap showing some (imo very foolish) people near the edge of the lava with the cone behind. They shouldn't be there at all! But that shows how high that cone is.

@CrunchyCarrot Do those people have no idea just how much liquid lava is pooled behind that seemingly solid wall, or what would happen to them if it gave way?

As for the Blue Lagoon being open again... crazy.

It beggars belief doesn't it! I suppose they want to post on social media how close they are and so on. Madness.

What absolute idiots those people are I'm not at all jealous. We were several miles away and had the police warn us not to get closer (they were very friendly and said we were fine but if we smell anything run) so I don't know how those people are getting so close. It's one thing if they want to risk their own lives but it will affect others too - rescuers or people who see them injured or die.

How is the Blue Lagoon getting away with opening? I understand it is close and Iceland is less risk averse than the UK but it seems crazy to me.

Thank you for the scale. I'm finding it really hard to get my head around.

Are there any recent maps showing where these cones are located? I couldn’t work out where all the lava is running off to. Usually vedur.is has maps but last time I looked the maps weren’t recently updated.

From what I can make out @RomComPhooey the lava is spreading either on top of the cooled lava, or running down through lava tubes. I don't think the leading edges have extended at all.

Thanks Crunchy. That would explain the unamended maps. 👍

I think some of the lava has changed course since yesterday when the back wall of the cone gave way, and some of it is now running north.

How is the Blue Lagoon getting away with opening? I understand it is close and Iceland is less risk averse than the UK but it seems crazy to me.

Small societies have benefits and downsides. One of the downsides is rampant cronyism and lack of proper accountability. The shit that rich people get away with in Iceland is off the charts.

Makes sense but I'm sorry. Thank you.

Those following will know we're awaiting another potential eruption in the area we're familiar with. However today I noticed there's an ongoing earthquake swarm in an area called Hengill, hundreds of small earthquakes. According to Wikipedia there's an 'active volcano' there but it hasn't erupted for 2,000 years.

I wondered whether any of you who are familiar with Iceland might have any knowledge of the area? There aren't really any webcams that I can find, am very curious as to what's going on there!

@Puffinshop

@CrunchyCarrot Which website are you using please?

https://vafri.is/quake/

That looks to be about where the hot water / power plant is that serves much of the capital area, Hellisheiði Power Station. It's right by the road between Rvk and Selfoss.

There's no chat in the Icelandic media about this area as far as I've seen...

Interesting! Of course the tremors have stopped now, but there were a lot for several hours.

I've been avidly following the met office updates and Shaun Wilsey's youtube posts, waiting for the next stage. I can't imagine how tense people in the region must be.

Did you see Shawn's interview with Gylfi Gylfason? Really nice to see them meet and have a chat!

Yes, I did! It was great to actually see the voice behind Gylfi's videos.

Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon are being evacuated and it is likely that another eruption is imminent.