Key Takeaways
- Earthquake swarms started in southwestern Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula since the afternoon of Wednesday.
- Over 190 earthquakes have been detected as of evening, reported the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO).
- The earthquakes in the Reykjanes Peninsula are possibly triggered due to changes in the stress field on the peninsula, in parallel with earthquakes there in recent years.
Helsinki: Large earthquake swarms started in southwestern Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula since the afternoon of Wednesday.
More than 190 earthquakes have been detected as of evening, reported the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO).
There were three major earthquakes of more than magnitude 3, among which the biggest one was magnitude 3.4, announced IMO.
Johanna Malen Skuladottir, a natural disaster specialist at IMO, said in an interview with Icelandic Radio (RUV) that intense earthquake swarms like this were common in this location and were not believed to be linked to volcanic activity.
“The earthquakes are possibly triggered due to changes in the stress field on the Reykjanes Peninsula, in parallel with earthquakes there in recent years,” she said.
There have been no reports that the earthquakes have been felt in populated areas, said IMO, adding that the 24-hour watch would continue to monitor the area closely.
Since 2023, five earthquake swarms have occurred in the same area as the current activity, according to the meteorological authority.
