Today (17. February 2023) at 09:26 UTC an earthquake with magnitude of Mw3,5 took place around 4 km north of Herðubreið mountain. This earthquake seems to have started an earthquake swarm in that area. It is unclear if this earthquake activity is connected to inflation that is taking place in Askja volcano.
There has been increase in earthquake activity at this location in Herðubreið mountain, but why is unclear.
Jon, there is a report that 10 cubic kilometres of lava is underground at Askja volcano, what would be the impact of a future eruption, and how might that compare to 1783?
Laki was formed from about 14 cubic km of magma reservoir. Askja volcano has an eruption pattern that doesn’t favour large eruptions often. With last large eruption being in 1875 (VEI=5) and before that in the year 8910 BCE (+- 200 years), also a VEI=5. Most eruptions only last for 4 to 45 days in recent times.
Source: https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=373060