A volcanic eruption in southwestern Iceland appears to have subsided, though scientists are warning that the area may experience further eruptions in the coming months.
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Iceland’s Meteorological Office said late Thursday that the eruption had decreased significantly.
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The eruption began at about 6am local time on Thursday in the area northeast of Mount Sýlingarfell, the Met Office said.
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It prompted the evacuation of the popular Blue Lagoon thermal spa and cut off heat and hot water to several communities on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern corner of the island.
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Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir said authorities hope to restore hot water to the area by midday on Friday, national broadcaster RUV reported.
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Benedikt Ófeigsson, a geophysicist at the Icelandic Met Office, told RUV that the area can expect an eruption every month or so over the next few months.
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“In the long term, it’s very difficult to say, but in the short term, the next months, we will probably continue to see repeated magma intrusions and eruptions,’’ he said.
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The Reykjanes peninsula had lain dormant for about 800 years until seismic activity started in 2020.
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There have since been six eruptions, including the current one. The first three eruptions that occurred from 2021 were in uninhabited areas and posed little risk to people and infrastructure.
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Iceland is one of the most geologically active places on earth due to its position between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates on the mid-Atlantic ridge. It has about 30 volcanic systems and more than 600 hot springs.
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