Month: June 2026

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Bárðarbunga volcano strongest earthquake swarm since year 2014

Yesterday (13. June 2026) at 20:14 UTC an earthquake with a magnitude Mw4,8 took place in Bárðarbunga volcano. This earthquake started an earthquake swarm in Bárðarbunga volcano that lasted until around 05:00 UTC before it did quiet down. Around 400 earthquakes where recorded in this earthquake swarm before it stopped. Total of six earthquakes with magnitude over Mw3,0 took place in this earthquake swarm.

Green stars in the centre of Bárðarbunga volcano, surrounded by red dots showing smaller earthquakes.
Earthquake activity in Bárðarbunga volcano during the night. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

The source of this earthquake swarm is movement of magma in Bárðarbunga volcano. This time, it did stop and not result in a eruption. An earthquake swarm of similar nature took place in Bárðarbunga volcano last year. Its is a possibility that this earthquake activity is not over, even if nothing has happened for more than 12 hours at the writing of this article. The source of this is magma and it is impossible to know what happens next. Bárðarbunga volcano has been inflating since end of the eruption in 2015. After it collapsed in that same eruption, during a caldera collapse event and lowered about 60 meters. Last inflation number suggested that it has inflated about 30 meters from lowest point.

If anything more happens. I am going to write a new article about what happens.

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Strong earthquake swarm in Brennisteinsfjöll volcano

Since Sunday, 31-May 2026 there has been a earthquake swarm in Brennisteinsfjöll volcano. This earthquake swarm is ongoing at the writing of this article. Largest earthquake so far has had the magnitude of Mw4,5 today (1-June 2026) and was felt over a wide area. A second Mw3,8 earthquake also happened today. A magnitude Mw3,5 earthquake took place on 31-May 2026. All of the largest earthquakes have been felt.

Three green stars and a whole lot of red dots showing the earthquake activity in Brennisteinsfjöll volcano. This is just west of Hveragerði town.
The earthquake swarm in Brennisteinsfjöll volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

This earthquake activity does not seem to have its origin in magma movement. This rather seems to be because of a rift zone valley movement in this area. That can result in magma movement at later stage, at the moment however, that does not seem to be the case. If anything more happens. I am going to write a new article with updated information.

Article update on 3-June 2026 at 23:02 UTC. New information shows that this earthquake swarm is happening in Brennisteinsfjöll volcano and not in Hengill volcano that is nearby, just slightly east of the earthquake swarm.