News — Earthquakes in Iceland

Just fyi. We’re headed there soon…

...unless an ash cloud turns the area into a 'no fly zone'

Exactly. Should have said, “we hope to be headed there soon!”

Same here, we are due to fly out in 2 weeks!

Oh my! Headed to Orkney and Shetland next month as well so will monitor this. Fingers crossed travel is not disrupted! (And of course no injury to people or property...)

There's a great FaceBook page called Iceland Geology/Seismic and Volcanic Activity in Iceland. It's full of scientific data presented in a way that's understandable to regular people and includes web cams.

We are in Iceland now and hope to fly out today. Really everything here seems to be business as usual. We did a wonderful soak in the Sky Lagoon last night and not a word was mentioned about it.

Hi december78824, hope you had a great trip! How was the weather? We’re packing waterproof jackets with liners. Some people are recommending rain pants, mosquito netting… Anything you’re glad you packed or wished you didn’t? Thank you!

naalehuretiree--I am following that same page!

December--Glad you had a good trip!

Donna--Yes, waterproof pants are always a good idea in Iceland regardless of time of year. We did not bring mosquito head nets on our last summer trip, but could have used them. We have them packed for our upcoming trip. We are headed to the Westfjords and I read reports that the bugs are relentless there right now, FWIW. When do you go? We are due to leave in just under 2 weeks.

Mikliz97, we’re doing a Scandinavian cruise that ends in Iceland. Planning to stay several days on our own mid-August.

DEFINITELY bring rain pants. We got back a week ago and wore them almost every day, but I think we had a rainier than normal 2 weeks.

Eruption begins

Volcanic Eruption Begins in Iceland After Earthquakes
Story by Ragnhildur Sigurdardottir • 32m ago

(Bloomberg) -- A volcanic eruption has begun near Iceland’s capital following days of seismic activity, the Met Office said on Monday.

Lava is emerging from ruptures that are estimated to be at least 500 meters (1,600 feet) long, Benedikt Ofeigsson, geophysicist at the Met Office, said by phone. The eruption “does not seem very powerful” but is generating visible steam, he said.

The uninhabited area, on the Reykjanes Peninsula, is near the spot of previous eruptions in 2021 and 2022, around 19 miles (30 kilometers) from the country’s capital.

Iceland, which has 30 volcanic systems and more than 600 hot springs, is one of the most geologically active places on earth, due to its position on the mid-Atlantic ridge where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.

One of the most disruptive volcanic eruptions in Iceland’s recent history occurred in 2010, when Eyjafjallajokull in the southern part of the country erupted in an explosion that released a plume of ash so vast that it grounded air traffic across Europe for weeks, resulting in the cancellation of 100,000 flights and affecting over 10 million people.

The eruption that started on Monday is “effusive and will remain that way,” said Ofeigsson. “It’s not an explosive ash eruption and it’s very unlikely it will become explosive.”

The main airport, Keflavik, said there are no disruptions to arrivals or departures, according to its website.

It’s possible that volcanic activity on the peninsula takes years or decades to conclude, according to Iceland’s Met Office.

Thanks for the update!

Oh wow, so cool!

And for those asking about waterproof clothing, YES, bring it. We were sad we didn't get to walk behind some of the waterfalls because it was cold and the people doing it got DRENCHED.

Yes, it has started! We go back next week and I am really hoping we get to see the eruption again! We saw it in 2021, and missed it in 2022 since that one was so short lived. The rare saying this one is 10x the size of the 2021 one, so fingers crossed we get to see it!

I just got an email from Iceland Air saying that so far the eruption isn't causing issues, but as with all things volcanic I assume that could change at any time. The email included a link to live cams of the eruption - pretty cool!

https://www.ruv.is/english/2023-07-06-ruvs-cameras-at-eruption-site-387112

CL--I got that same email. Right now the experts are not expecting this to have any affect on flights as it is not an ash event. Of course, things can always change, but right now I am holding out hope especially since we are due to arrive again next week.