Posts

Posted on

Earthquake swarm in Kolbeinsey island ridge

Yesterday (5-November 2026) an earthquake swarm took place in Kolbeinsey island ridge. Far north of Iceland. Largest earthquake had a magnitude of Mw3,5 at 17:51 UTC. Since this earthquake swarm is far from Icelandic Met Office seismometer network. The details of this earthquake swarm are not good.

Green stars far north of Iceland showing the activity in Kolbeinsey island ridge.
Earthquake swarm far north of Iceland in the Kolbeinsey island ridge. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

Last eruption in Kolbeinsey island and Kolbeinsey island ridge was in the year 1755 and the eruption before that was in the year 1372. There are no signs now that the current earthquake activity is connected to magma movement. This earthquake activity seems to be too little for that to be the case at the moment. A magma movement would result in stronger and longer sustained earthquake activity. More earthquake activity is possible in this area.

Posted on

Strong magnitude Mw5,3 earthquake in Bárðarbunga volcano

Today (19-October 2026) at 14:44 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw5,3 (EMSC) took place in Bárðarbunga volcano. This earthquake had a start in a earthquake swarm that started few hours earlier and had a earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,0 at 12:51 UTC. Along with several smaller earthquakes in the same area.

Green star in south-west part of Bárðarbunga volcano caldera. Red dots in the same area show smaller earthquakes.
Earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake activity is because of ongoing inflation in Bárðarbunga volcano after the end of last eruption in the year 2015. This activity today was just an earthquake. It doesn’t seem to have started a magma dyke activity as has happened in last two years and ended in a failed eruption. Start of such process does not require a strong earthquake, it can also start with a small earthquake and build quickly from that. That is going to happen again one day until an eruption happens again in Bárðarbunga volcano.

Posted on

Earthquake with magnitude Mw4,7 in Bárðarbunga volcano

Today (5-October 2026) at 17:28 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw4,7 took place in Bárðarbunga volcano. This earthquake started a small earthquake swarm in the Bárðarbunga volcano caldera. This earthquake swarm that followed the main earthquake showed sign of magma trying to break a path to the surface. Like other attempts, this also failed because of lack pressure in the system.

Bárðarbunga volcano with a green star showing the largest earthquake, along with red dots showing smaller earthquakes in the Bárðarbunga volcano caldera. A second green star south-west of Bárðarbunga volcano. This is in the Hamarinn volcano.
Earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake activity lasted for about 1 hour before it stopped. It is unlikely that this activity is going to continue based on current data. If this activity continues, it is going to restart with a new earthquake swarm in Bárðarbunga volcano. That might be with a either a new large earthquake, but a new earthquake swarm starting with a small earthquake is also know to have happened since this sequence of event started in the year 2024.

If anything more happens. I am going to write new article soon as it is possible for me to do so.

Posted on

Earthquake swarm in Brennisteinsfjöll volcano

Yesterday (4-October 2026) at 00:40 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,4 took place in Brennisteinsfjöll volcano. The largest earthquake was felt in Reykjavík city and areas in south Iceland.

Green star showing the location of the main earthquake in Brennisteinsfjöll volcano.
The earthquake in Brennisteinfjöll volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake swarm seems to be part of a rift valley that is forming from Kleifarvatn lake down to the coastline in Krýsuvík volcano, even if this earthquake is happening in a different volcano. That process is having a effect on nearby crust and resulting in earthquakes. The formation of this rift valley has paused, earlier when the eruptions where happening in Svartsengi volcano and in Fagradalsfjall volcano the formation of this rift valley took place. Since those eruptions stopped, the process that is creating the rift valley from Kleifarvatn lake has slowed or stopped. I do not know why that is what has happened.

Posted on

Earthquake swarm in Presthnúkar volcano in South Langjökull glacier

Today (15-September 2026) at 14:18 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw4,2 took place in Presthnúkar volcano. This earthquake was felt in nearby farms that are located south of Langjökull glacier. This earthquake is the largest earthquake in the earthquake swarm that has been taking place at this location.

Green star in north part of Presthnúkar volcano. Red dots in the same nearby area showing smaller earthquakes.
The earthquake swarm in Presthnúkar volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

At the writing of this article the earthquake swarm is ongoing. That means there is a risk more more strong earthquakes in Presthnúkar volcano.

Posted on

Strong earthquake swarm close to Geirfugladrangur island

Yesterday (25-August 2026) during the night an earthquake swarm started close to Geirfugladrangur island (its more of a rock standing out in the ocean). There where five earthquakes with magnitude above Mw3,0. Two earthquakes with magnitude Mw4,1 and one earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,6 and two earthquakes with magnitude of Mw3,4. This location is far away from land so detection of earthquakes in this location is limited by distance from the Icelandic Met Office seismic network. At least one of the larger earthquakes where felt on Reykjanes peninsula.

Green stars on the Reykjanes ridge showing the largest earthquakes. A lot of yellow dots showing smaller earthquakes at the same location.
The earthquake swarm close to Geirfugladrangur island on Reykjanes ridge. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

At the writing of this article this earthquake swarm is ongoing, after being quiet for most of the day. There is a chance this is because of magma movement, but this being out in the ocean makes it difficult to be sure if that is the case. The chance is higher than lower that is the case in this earthquake activity.

Posted on

Minor earthquake swarm in Reykjanes volcano

Today (24-August 2026) a minor earthquake swarm took place in the volcano Reykjanes. Largest earthquake in this swarm had a magnitude of Mw2,9.

Orange and red dots on Reykjanestá on Reykjanes peninsula showing the small earthquake swarm that took place there today.
The earthquake swarm on Reykjanes ridge in the volcano Reykjanes. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake swarm seems to be in part ongoing, but very few earthquakes are taking place at the writing of this article.

Posted on

Strong earthquake in Bárðarbunga volcano with magnitude Mw5,2 to Mw5,4

Today (28-July 2028) at 05:36 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw5,2 to Mw5,4 took place in Bárðarbunga volcano. This earthquake was followed by a minimal amount of aftershocks. This earthquake happened because of inflation happening in Bárðarbunga volcano. The magnitude is reported as Mw5,2 at Icelandic Met Office. EMSC is reporting the magnitude of this earthquake as Mw5,4.

Green star in Bárðarbunga volcano, showing few orange dots that are smaller earthquakes.
Earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

While the current earthquake activity has stopped. This activity can resume at any time without any warning. There seems to be enough magma pressure to start an eruption, but for some reason the magma pressure is not high enough to break the pressure of the crust or the pressure from the crust and the glacier on top of the volcano. Whatever the case is, there is a risk of an eruption starting in Bárðarbunga volcano without much warning. The area is remote, so there is no risk to any damage. The biggest risk is from glacier floods if an eruption starts under the glacier.

Posted on

Earthquake in Hengill volcano

Yesterday (27-July 2026) at 00:36 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw4,1 took place in Hengill volcano. This earthquake was felt over a wide area of south Iceland. Very few aftershocks happened following this earthquake.

Green star on the top of the map, showing swarm of fissures and a green star and few red dots where the earthquake activity took place.
Earthquake activity in Hengill volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This is the largest earthquake in this area since 1998 according to Icelandic Met Office. The news claim that earthquake activity is frequent in this area, that has not been the case for the last few years. There have been minor earthquakes swarm slightly more south west of this location. At the writing of this article, no more earthquake activity has happened.

Posted on

Earthquake swarm in Katla volcano

Today (15-July 2026) at 19:25 UTC an earthquake with the magnitude of Mw3,8 took place in Katla volcano. This earthquake started a minor earthquake swarm in Katla volcano. There are no reports at the writing of this article that this earthquake has been felt.

Green star in Katla volcano caldera. With red dots showing the smaller earthquakes around the green star.
Earthquake activity in Katla volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

At the writing of this article. This earthquake swarm has stopped. Since this is a volcano, this earthquake activity might start again without warning. At the writing of this article. Things are quiet in Katla volcano.