Volcanic eruption expected: Thousands to be evacuated, residents given 5 minutes to enter homes

The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) has stated that there is a high probability of a volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

The IMO announced that the likelihood of an eruption has increased since the morning hours. The statement noted that the eruption could begin at any moment within the next few days.

Residents of the town have been evacuated due to fears that the volcano could erupt. The evacuation came after the region was shaken by hundreds of small earthquakes every day for more than two weeks, while scientists monitored magma accumulation about 5 kilometers below the surface.

Residents of a small Icelandic town near a volcano expected to erupt in the coming days or weeks were given only five minutes to return to their homes to collect their valuables. Grindavík was evacuated on Saturday after experts warned that recent seismic activity indicated an eruption was imminent. The town of 3,400 residents is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, about 50 kilometers southwest of the capital, Reykjavik.

"NO ONE COMPLAINED"

Authorities warned that residents were only allowed to be in the town during daylight hours and stated that only one person per household was permitted to return. Police also appeared insistent that those returning should only take essential items such as pets, medication, passports, and important documents.

The warning from the Meteorological Office stated, "at this stage, it is not possible to determine exactly whether or when the magma will reach the surface, or where it might reach." Resident Solveig Thorbergsdottir explained, "when you enter the house, you are very confused. You only have five minutes, but I extended it to 15 minutes and recorded what I saw around me. Photos of the grandchildren. Photos from my youth. My best clothes, my wedding dress."

Residents were accompanied by police officers to ensure they did not stay too long. The officer on duty, Olafur Orvar Olafsson, said, "no one has complained so far," noting that the residents were handling the situation with maturity.

CONCERNS INCREASED WITH EARTHQUAKE

Concerns regarding a possible eruption increased early Thursday when a 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck the region, forcing the internationally renowned Blue Lagoon geothermal facility to temporarily close.

Geology professor Pall Einarrson told Iceland's RUV channel that seismic activity began in an area north of Grindavík where a 2,000-year-old crater network is located, reporting that the magma corridor is about 10 kilometers long and spreading: "The largest earthquakes occurred here, under this series of old craters, but since then the magma corridor has been lengthening, moving under the urban area in Grindavík and going further and towards the sea."

Authorities say the risk of a volcanic eruption is steadily increasing and have raised the aviation alert to orange. Volcanic eruptions pose a serious danger to aviation because they can spew high levels of abrasive ash into the atmosphere, causing jet engines to fail, damaging flight control systems, and reducing visibility.

A major eruption in Iceland in 2010 led to widespread disruptions in air travel between Europe and North America, costing airlines an estimated 2.81 billion Euros with more than 100,000 flights canceled.