Jessica Sarrach '24, Editor-in-Chief
Recent seismic activity in the southwestern peninsula of Reykjanes, Iceland has many scientists concerned about a local volcano, best known as Fagradalsfjall, erupting and destroying surrounding cities.
Fagradalsfjall last erupted in 2021 after being previously dormant for 800 years. The large volcano is accredited for the recent earthquakes that have been devastating life in Iceland. Certain cities within the volcano's radius of reach have been experiencing hundreds of earthquakes a day, leading scientists to believe that something disastrous may soon occur.
Specifically, the city of Grindavik has been forced to displace many of its citizens due in large part to the 15-kilometer-long sheet of rock formed in fractures of pre-existing rock—also known as a dyke—which formed during the earthquakes. Nearly 3,400 citizens were asked to evacuate due to this fissure activity along the dyke. Other parts of Iceland have been welcoming to those displaced by the disastrous activity, opening their homes to those forced to evacuate.
Scientists believe that if the volcano erupts, it will happen sooner rather than later; therefore, every day Iceland goes without an eruption is good news for the people of Grindavik, as it means the volcano is becoming less and less likely to erupt. Víðir Reynisson, director of Civil Defense in Iceland, said, "If this continues without an eruption, the chance of one decreases with time pretty rapidly." However, as time continues and no eruption has occurred in Grindavik, scientists are turning their attention to another area close by in Iceland which may offer more pressing concerns of volcanic activity: Svartsengi.
A couple of miles north of Grindavik lies Svarsengi, an area that surrounds a power plant. Professor Thorvaldur Thordarson of University of Iceland said, "The land near the power plant is swelling as a chamber some 4.5 kilometers below the surface fills with magma at a rate of around 50 cubic meters per second." An eruption of this magnitude could likely wipe out the entire town. This includes schools, homes, and other landmarks. Many displaced citizens, however, have already lost their homes in the earthquakes which have been destroying the cities.
As of now, the town of Grindavik is still vacant, but if the current trend continues, and the volcano does not erupt, the citizens may be soon able to return home. But first, the plentiful earthquakes will need to calm, and the people will still need to deal with the insurmountable damage that was left in their wake.
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