Iceland Evacuates Blue Lagoon Amid ‘Earthquake Swarm’, Magma Eruption Likely

Iceland evacuated people from its famous Blue Lagoon on Tuesday morning after the volcanic island’s seismologists recorded an “earthquake swarm” which made an eruption of magma “likely”.

An official with Iceland’s Civil Protection Department told Visir the lagoon had been evacuated and work was underway to evacuate the town of Grindavík.

The earthquake swarm began at 6:30 a.m. local time on the Sundhnúks Crater Row, Iceland’s Meteorological Office said.

“The swarm is located between Sýlingarfell and Stóra-Skógfell, in a similar area seen prior to previous eruptions,” the office said, adding that it was “followed by a clear change in deformation and pressure changes in boreholes”.

“Both independent measurements were a clear sign of the onset of a magma intrusion,” the office warned. “No magma has reached the surface as of now, but an eruption is likely to occur.”

This is a developing story and more information will be added soon.