Iceland’s popular tourist attraction Blue Lagoon has been temporarily closed due to fears of an impending volcanic eruption. The operator announced that the initial closure of the outdoor natural thermal pool for a week was a “proactive decision” due to numerous small earthquakes in recent times.
The night before, some guests at the hotels adjacent to the Blue Lagoon had left in fear because of the situation. At least 40 hotel guests were reportedly picked up by taxis, Vikurfettir newspaper reported.
On the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland, where the lagoon with its turquoise blue, steaming warm water is located, the earth has repeatedly shaken slightly in recent weeks.
The Icelandic Meteorological Agency (IMO) has recorded around 23,000 small earthquakes since the end of October. It is “likely that seismic activity will continue,” the report said.
Magma discovered at a depth of five kilometers
The agency also discovered an underground accumulation of magma in the area at a depth of about five kilometers. If it starts moving towards the surface, it could mean a volcanic eruption. There are currently “no clear signs” of this, but the situation “could change in a short time”.
In 2020 and 2022, four similar seismic events were recorded in the area without triggering a volcanic eruption.
Source: Krone
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