By Johannes Birkebaek
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Icelandic authorities remain vigilant for a potential volcanic eruption in the southwest Reykjanes peninsula, despite a decrease in seismic activity, according to officials on Friday.
Iceland has been facing a heightened risk of eruption since late October, when seismic activity and underground lava flows surged near the capital Reykjavik.
The Metrological Office issued a statement indicating that an eruption near the evacuated town of Grindavik is now less likely, with the most probable location for volcanic magma to rise being the area between Hagafell and Sýlingarfell.
“Seismic activity continues to decrease,” the statement read, noting that “the likelihood of eruption decreases over time”.
A group of five ministers from the Icelandic parliament visited Grindavik on Friday, where evacuated residents were allowed to return on Thursday to retrieve personal belongings. However, the reestablishment of normalcy in Grindavik is expected to take months due to infrastructure damage, according to public safety director Vidir Reynisson as quoted by Icelandic media RUV.
Following a decline in activity earlier in the week, the risk level for earthquakes in Grindavik was downgraded from emergency to danger level on Thursday, as stated by Iceland’s civil defense authority.
(Reporting by Johannes Birkebaek; Editing by Alexander Smith)
