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🇮🇸 Iceland /Disasters & Emergencies

Strong earthquake in Bárðarbunga

From Morgunblaðið · () Icelandic

Translated from Icelandic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A magnitude 5.2 earthquake was recorded in the Bárðarbunga volcanic system early Tuesday morning.
  • The earthquake occurred on the northern rim of the caldera and is part of a pattern of regular seismic activity.
  • Scientists state the tremors are linked to magma accumulation following the 2014-2015 Holuhraun eruption, with no signs of an imminent eruption.

A significant earthquake, measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale, struck Iceland's Bárðarbunga volcanic system early Tuesday. The tremor occurred at 5:36 a.m. on the northern edge of the caldera, initially reported as 5.1 magnitude before being revised by the Icelandic Met Office.

Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir, a natural hazards specialist at the Met Office, described the event as "part of a pattern we have been seeing in recent months." She noted that earthquakes of this magnitude are occurring regularly within the system.

This is just part of a pattern that we have been seeing in recent months. Earthquakes of this size are occurring regularly.

— Sigríður KristjánsdóttirExplaining the seismic activity in Bárðarbunga.

The seismic activity is understood to be connected to magma accumulation beneath Bárðarbunga, a consequence of the major Holuhraun eruption that took place between 2014 and 2015. Despite the tremors, Kristjánsdóttir confirmed there are currently no signs indicating an impending volcanic eruption. A few minor aftershocks have been recorded since the main event.

There are no signs of volcanic unrest.

— Sigríður KristjánsdóttirConfirming the absence of eruption indicators following the earthquake.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Morgunblaðið in Icelandic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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