Pair of magnitude 4.0+ earthquakes strike near Iceland glacier and volcano

The met office reported that shaking was felt across much of southwestern Iceland.

THE TAKEAWAY

  • Two magnitude 4.0+ earthquakes strike Iceland seconds apart.
  • Other parts of Iceland have entered a renewed period of earthquake swarms and volcanic eruptions after nearly 800 years of relative quiet.

REYKJAVIK, Iceland — A pair of magnitude 4.0+ earthquakes struck western Iceland about 11 seconds apart Tuesday afternoon, local time, according to the Icelandic Met Office.

A magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck near the Langjökull volcanic system at 2:18 p.m., about 2 miles beneath the surface. That was followed almost immediately by a magnitude 4.3 quake underneath the Langjökull glacier roughly 6 miles away.

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The met office reported that shaking was felt across much of southwestern Iceland.

Government seismologists said the last quake of that magnitude struck in 2022 and seismic activity is somewhat common in the area.

VOLCANO ERUPTS ON ICELAND'S REYKJANES PENINSULA

Iceland is both seismically and volcanically active. The country's system of volcanoes along the Reykjanes Peninsula near the capital of Reykjavík, has entered a renewed period of earthquake swarms and volcanic eruptions after nearly 800 years of relative quiet.

Eruptions last year prompted evacuations at the country's Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, a popular tourist destination.