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Possibility of a larger earthquake near Reykjavik  E-mail
Saturday, 30 May 2009 18:39
Scientists think that there might be more earthquakes, all up to 5,5 Richter near Reykjavik after powerful earthquakes started north east of Grindavik last night. Two quakes 4 points and larger were in the afternoon today but the largest earthquake for 4,7 Richter caused dinner guests at the Blue Lagoon to run out of the house and the power station at Svartsengi failed.

The earthquake roll started yesterday afternoon around six kilometer deep below the fire wells of Reykjanes fjallgardur on the boundaries of the crustal plates of North-America and Euro-Asia. At 9.33pm last night was the largest earthquake so far 4,7 richter, and was reported to have been noticable all the way east to Hvolsvollur and west to Budardalur. At 2am was another quake for 3,9 Richter, the third large earthquake which was 4,3 Richter was at 1.35 today and at 5.06pm was an earthquake that was measured at four points. It may be expected that two thirds of the nation felt the largest quakes but the quakes started around five kilometers east of Svartengi but have been moving further east. In total have been over one thousand earthquakes in this area in a little over 24 hours.

Gunnar Gudmundsson geophysicist from the Icelandic meteorological office says that there are no signs of volcanic activity. The earthquakes are normal breakage quakes.

But this was not a normal happening for the dinner guests in the dining hall of the blue lagoon last night. Foreign guests ran away from their tables. People bolted out and a waiter in the restaurant says that he has never seen anyone get as fast up from their tables. Outside the restaurant saw the guests rocks fall from the lava walls down to the sidewalk and the Blue Lagoon water splashed. A wave from the blue lagoon splashed on to the windows.

The tourists who sat dining in the hall today felt the quake that was around 1.30 today. A woman from Belgium said that her heart had jumped and admitted that she was scared. This was the first time she had ever felt an earthquake.

But possibly were the employees of the electric station in Svartsengi who were closest to the origin of the large quake last night. Everything shook. Two of the generators shut down which produce 60 of 75 megawatts of the power station, and it took around three hours to start it up again.

Then it is thought that the earthquakes caused an electric cord to Grindavik to be unplugged and the town was without electricity for five hours this morning. It is not known that any changes have been to the drill holes of the station.

Scientists say that it is possible that there may be further large quakes and then near to Reykjavik area. Gunnar Gudmundsson geophysicist says that it is impossible to rule out quakes ranging from 4,5 - 5,5 in the area between Kleifarvatn and Fagradalsfjall.

 


News Article by noname
Translated by Anya
Original Article in Icelandic
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