Iceland Braces for Potential Eruption, Building Barriers Against Magma
Iceland is a nation faced with an rumbling underbelly - and the terrifying prospect of a volcanic explosion is looming ever closer. Now, the country is constructing barriers to hamper the surge of magma.
For weeks, a magma conduit beneath southwest Iceland has been widening, about 1000 meters under the earth's surface. By midday on Monday, the weather service reported some 460 tremors. The most potent quake registered a magnitude of 2.7!
Veteran geologists cannot pinpoint precisely when or where the molten rock could burst from the ground. Nonetheless, the deformation of the ground points to an area about two kilometers north of the abandoned town of Grindavík, as stated by Civil Defense Director Vídir Reynisson on Monday, as reported by German press agency dpa. Grindavík is located about 40 kilometers southwest of the capital city, Reykjavik. The population of about 3,700 was forced to vacate their homes last Saturday night.
High Risk of Volcanic Eruption
"There is a high risk of an eruption in the near future, but we can't quantify it exactly," said Reynisson. "If there is no subsequent eruption, the probability of an eruption will lessen relatively quickly over time."
Yet, there remains no all-clear signal. Thus, Iceland is currently building barriers to prevent the magma's escape. The country is opportune to safeguard Grindavík and also the Svartsgeni geothermal power plant, situated approximately 1.5 kilometers away. According to the civil defense director, the plant delivers heating for around 30,000 people.
British tabloid Daily Mirror reported exclusively that an eight-meter-high barrier is being constructed in the mountains of Iceland, shielding the Svartsgeni geothermal power plant from potential volcanic eruptions. With a high risk of an eruption in the imminent future, Iceland's government has enlisted an advisor to offer strategic counsel on how best to secure Grindavík and indispensable infrastructure, such as the geothermal power plant.
Mitigating Volcanic Threats
While specific dams are not explicitly named as a preventive measure, sources emphasize early warning systems, evacuation plans, and reinforcing infrastructure to diminish the ramifications of volcanic eruptions.
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