Earthquakes on Reykjanes Peninsula raise alarm as smoke rises from lava fields near Mount Þorbjörn

Earthquakes on the Reykjanes Peninsula have recently captured attention as smoke is observed rising from lava fields, as seen on a webcam overlooking Mount Þorbjörn. The Icelandic Meteorological Office reports that there is no indication of an impending volcanic eruption; rather, the smoke is attributed to gases emitted from older lava, which still retains heat. The current weather conditions enhance visibility, making the smoke more apparent.

Despite the increased seismic activity near the Sundhnúkur crater group over the past 24 hours, the office confirms that no eruption has commenced on the Reykjanes Peninsula. In total, approximately ninety earthquakes were recorded in the past day, with over twenty quakes detected since midnight. This ongoing seismicity is linked to the slow uplift and magma accumulation beneath the Svartsengi area, which has been relatively stable in recent days. The majority of these tremors were small, with magnitudes mostly below one.