Iceland rushes to protect power plant over fears of volcanic eruption | 24CA News
Icelandic authorities have been getting ready to construct defence partitions on Tuesday round a geothermal energy plant within the southwestern a part of the nation that they hope will shield it from lava flows amid issues of an imminent volcanic eruption.
Seismic exercise and underground lava flows intensified on the Reykjanes peninsula close to the capital Reykjavik over the weekend, prompting authorities to evacuate almost 4,000 folks from the fishing city of Grindavik on Saturday.
The likelihood of an eruption remained excessive regardless of a lower in seismic exercise, the Icelandic Meteorological Institute stated in a press release on Tuesday.
Nearly 800 earthquakes have been recorded within the space between midnight and midday on Tuesday, fewer than the 2 earlier days, it stated.
“Less seismic activity typically precedes an eruption, because you have come so close to the surface that you cannot build up a lot of tension to trigger large earthquakes,” stated Rikke Pedersen, who heads the Nordic Volcanological Centre based mostly in Reykjavik.
“It should never be taken as a sign that an outbreak is not on the way,” she stated.
Authorities stated they have been getting ready to assemble a big dyke designed to divert lava flows across the Svartsengi geothermal energy plant, situated simply over six kilometres from Grindavik.
Iceland’s Justice Minister Gudrun Hafsteinsdottir informed state broadcaster RUV that tools and supplies that might fill 20,000 vehicles have been being moved to the plant.
Construction of the protecting dyke across the energy station was awaiting formal approval from the federal government.
A spokesperson for HS Orka, operator of the ability plant, stated the plant provides energy to the complete nation, though a disruption wouldn’t impact energy provide to the capital Reykjavik.
Deserted city close by
Almost all of Grindavik’s 3,800 inhabitants, who have been evacuated over the weekend, have been briefly allowed again in on Monday and Tuesday to gather their belongings, the Icelandic division of civil safety and emergency administration stated.
In Grindavik, lengthy cracks ran by way of the city centre, leaving its most important road impassable, whereas steam may very well be seen rising from the bottom.
Some of the homes nonetheless had their lights on, however the city was abandoned past the odd automobile and a handful of locals there to gather their most vital belongings earlier than Grindavik was as soon as once more declared out of bounds.
Grindavik resident Kristin Maria Birgisdottir, who works for the city municipality, informed Reuters on Tuesday she solely had the garments she had worn for work on the day the city was evacuated.
“I’m getting prepared in case I get a chance to visit my house and get some of my belongings,” stated Birgisdottir, who has moved to a summer season home together with her household.
Some residents needed to be pushed into Grindavik in emergency responders’ automobiles, whereas most inhabitants have been allowed to drive into Grindavik of their personal automobiles accompanied by emergency personnel.
Most pets and cattle had been rescued from Grindavik by Monday evening, in line with charity Dyrfinna.
