Volcano and earthquake activity in Iceland
Today (29-October 2025) at 16:46 UTC an strong earthquake took place in Bárðarbunga volcano. This earthquake had a magnitude of Mw5,4. It was not felt according to news. This earthquake is the result of inflation that is happening in Bárðarbunga volcano and has been since its eruption ended in the year 2015.
There was some aftershock activity, but it has been minimal. Currently there are no signs of an eruption is about to start in Bárðarbunga volcano.
This morning on 20-October 2025 an strong earthquake swarm started in Katla volcano. Strongest earthquake so far had a magnitude of Mw4,5. It was most likely felt in nearby populated areas. Several earthquakes with magnitude above Mw3,0 also took place. This earthquake swarm is ongoing, but it happens in waves and at the writing of this article there is a quiet period happening.
At the moment there has not been any signs of magma movement. That might change without warning. There also not been any change in glacier water from Mýrdalsjökull glacier. That only show up after 4 to 8 hours, since it takes time for the glacier water to travel to the glacier rivers from Mýrdalsjökull glacier. If anything more important happens. I’ll post a new update on what is going on.
Today (18. September 2025) at 00:04 UTC an earthquake with the magnitude of Mw3,6 took place in Hamarinn volcano, that is south of Bárðarbunga volcano.A small aftershock took place soon after the largest earthquake. There are no signs that an eruption is about to happen. Last year this area also had an earthquake, but a bit smaller one.
It is difficult to know if any more earthquakes are going to happen in this area. At the moment that is unlikely.
On 18-August 2025 at 18:10 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,8 took place in Brennisteinsfjöll volcano. This earthquake was felt in Reykjavík and nearby towns.
This earthquake swarm has stopped. There is a lot of stress on the crust in this part of Reykjanes because of the ongoing inflation and deflation cycle in Svartsengi volcano. Larger earthquake might happen without warning.
On the 27-July 2025 at 23:39 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw5,2 took place in Bárðarbunga volcano. A second earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,1 took place at 23:41 UTC. That second earthquake is embedded into the first earthquake and that makes it impossible to see it in earthquake data without good analyse. The largest earthquake was felt in Akureyri, far north of Bárðarbunga volcano.
This is normal earthquake activity as Bárðarbunga volcano continues to inflate. This large earthquake happen every few month in Bárðarbunga volcano.
During the night of 20-July 2025 at 02:55 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,5 took place in Krýsuvík volcano. This earthquake was felt in Reykjavík and other nearby area.
This is a tectonic earthquake. Possibly adjustment in the crust the eruption that is happening in Svartsengi volcano. Since the eruption results in the Svartsengi volcano to deflate. This earthquake swarm seems to be over for now.
This is a summary update with best information I have at the moment. Some information might be out of date without me knowing about it.
If there is anything more to report. I’ll post update here about it. I don’t expect there is going to be any need for any future update at the writing of this article.
Updated at 00:59 UTC on 17th of July with missing information.
Today (16-July 2025) at 03:53:31 UTC an eruption started in Svartsengi volcano in Sundhnúkagígaröðinni crater row. This is the most northern part of the eruption area. Far from anything important. The eruption fissure doesn’t look large based on what can be seen on web cameras.
It is impossible to know how long this eruption is going to last. It might be few hours and up to few days. If needed. I’ll post updates about the eruption. Normally in this type of eruption that is not required.
This morning (7-July 2025) at 04:38 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,4 took place in SISZ, close to a location called Árnes. More then a dozen smaller earthquakes followed the largest earthquake. There are no reports that this earthquake was felt, but its not impossible in the summer houses that are in this area.
I don’t think this earthquake swarm is a sign of a large earthquake happening in SISZ. Since those often happen without much warning. This earthquake swarm has now stopped.
Yesterday (18-June 2025) a small earthquake swarm started in Krýsuvík volcano. The largest earthquake had a magnitude of Mw3,4 and was felt in Reykjavík and nearby area.
This earthquake swarm is possibly because of the inflation in Svartsengi volcano. More earthquake activity might happen in this area because of that inflation in next few weeks.