1 April 2025, 09:21 | Updated: 1 April 2025, 09:56
Aerial view of the town of Grindavik in Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland
Aerial view of the town of Grindavik in Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland. Picture: Getty
By Flaminia Luck
Tourists and residents have been evacuated from a town in Iceland as weather experts have warned a volcanic eruption is "likely".
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Magma started flowing in the Sundhnúkur crater area in the south at 6.30 this morning.
Now, a "significant volume" of magman is moving both to the northeast and also southwards towards Grindavík.
"At this stage, it is not possible to determine where the magma will reach the surface, but the southward shift in the deformation data was not seen during the eruption that began in November 2024," local news reported.
Last week, seismic activity was reported in the area. Around ten earthquakes were recorded near the magma tunnel, prompting heightened vigilance among monitoring teams.
The evacuation of Grindavík - which is home to the famous Blue Lagoon - and the surrounding areas has begun, according to Hjördís Guðmundsdóttir, spokesperson for Civil Defense (Almannavarnir).
They added magma volume beneath Svartsengi is at its highest since the eruption series began in December 2023.
The Icelandic Met Office has warned an eruption is 'likely'
The Icelandic Met Office has warned an eruption is 'likely'. Picture: Icelandic Met Office
In an update posted this morning, the Icelandic Met Office said: "An earthquake swarm began at around 6:30 AM this morning on the Sundhnúks Crater Row.
"The swarm is located between Sýlingarfell and Stóra-Skógfell, in a similar are as seen prior to previous eruptions. The earthquake swarm was followed by a clear change in deformation and pressure changes in boreholes operated by HS Orka. Both independent measurements were a clear sign of the onset of a magma intrusion.
"No magma has reached the surface as of now, but an eruption is likely to occur."
Blue Lagoon, Grindavík, Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland
Grindavík - where the Blue Lagoon is - is being evacuated. Picture: Alamy
Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir, a natural hazard expert at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, told mbl.is that seismic activity was significantly higher during the first part of the night compared to recent days.
“The night watch was on its toes, as there was increased seismic activity shortly after midnight,” Kristjánsdóttir said.
“However, it subsided around 3 am.”
"We are in the middle of an event," said Jóhanna Malen Skúladóttir, a natural hazards specialist.
So far, no impact on air traffic has been reported.