Iceland Monitor

17/06/2024

Today is Iceland's Independence Day and the 80th anniversary of the Icelandic Republic

“It took courage and unwavering faith in the prospects of the Icelandic nation to fight for the sovereignty and the establishment of a republic.”

17/06/2024

Thankfully pollution is minimal due to the eruption

The eruption in Sundhnúkagígar crater row is steady although seismic activity has decreased. Little to no changes have been seen over the last couple of days.

17/06/2024

Extensive damages due to a fire in Kringlan mall
https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/news/2024/06/16/fire_broke_out_in_kringlan_mall_yesterday/

17/06/2024

Extensive damages due to a fire in Kringlan mall

Fire broke out on the roof of Kringlan Mall yesterday just after 4 pm. The source of the fire has not been established, but industrial workers were working on the roof melting roof tar paper.

14/06/2024

Immigration laws more akin to the other Nordic countries

The Icelandic parliament, Althingi, has approved the immigration bill by Minister of Justice Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir.

14/06/2024

The volcanic smog can be felt in Scotland

An unprecedented increase in SO2 has been detected in Edinburgh, Scotland. The volcanic eruption at Sundhnúkagígar crater row is believed to be responsible. BBC reports.

13/06/2024

The first samples of magma show more kinship between this eruption and the Geldingadalir eruption in 2021 than the eruptions in between

The magma from the eruption at the Sundhnúkagígar crater row differs significantly from its predecessors. It is more similar to the magma from the Geldingadalir eruption during the first days of the eruption in March 2021, going by the first analyses made.

13/06/2024

This is not your everyday Cruise ship

The first hybrid cruiser to sail in the Arctic and the only icebreaker to have been built as a passenger ship is regularly docked at Skarfabakki harbor in Reykjavík.

13/06/2024

Not everyday that smoke comes up from a newly paved road

The American tourist Steve Stark and his family were quite taken back when they drove on a road that had been constructed over the newly flowing lava from the Sundhnúkagígar crater row volcano.

13/06/2024

The sequel to Greenland is being filmed in Iceland for the next two weeks

The filming of the thriller Greenland: Migration began here in Iceland yesterday. The acclaimed actor Gerard Butler plays the leading role and he just arrived in the country. The movie is the sequel to the movie Greenland, which was a hit in 2020.

12/06/2024

The inflow of magma into the magma chamber under Svartsengi seems to be more than the outflow from the crater.

Measurements indicate that inflation has resumed at Svartsengi, but the eruption at Sund-hnúkagígar crater row has been ongoing for thirteen days.

05/06/2024

Inflation, high interests and high wages make the restaurant business very difficult

More restaurants went bankrupt in 2022 than in the years marked by the pandemic and several restaurants have gone bankrupt in 2022.

05/06/2024

Satellite images from NASA

The US space agency NASA has published satellite images that show clearly how the lava flow of the eruption at Sundhnúkagígar crater row has flowed.

05/06/2024

A few roads closed to to unusual weather this time of year

It is uncertain whether the ring road through Mývatn and Möðrudalsöræfi highlands and from Höfn to Djúpivogur will open today. The Road and Coastal Administration will evaluate the situation by noon.

04/06/2024

Þórsmörk might become Iceland's newest National Park

The municipal council of Rangárþing East is working on exploring the feasibility of creating a national park in the Þórsmörk area.

04/06/2024

After midnight there was a decrease in power in the Sundhnúkagígar crater row eruption

The volcanic force at Sundhnúkagígar crater row apparently decreased significantly at two o’clock last night.

04/06/2024

The Blue Lagoon opened again on Sunday

The eruption at the Sundhnúkagígar crater row does not seem to stop tourists from visiting the Blue Lagoon. When mbl.is journalists arrived around noon yesterday, there were a few tourists in the area.

04/06/2024

One of the presidential runners up was seriously busy during the campaign as he was shooting a TV series as well. Meet Jón Gnarr, previous Mayor of Reykjavík

The actor and presidential candidate, Jón Gnarr, no longer has his hair, as it was shaved yesterday. His son, Jón Gnarr jr., a new student from MS, shaved his dad’s hair from at their home in the western part of Reykjavík yesterday.

04/06/2024

Winter weather until Friday

Various roads will be closed due to the storm that is due to hit today. Yellow and orange alerts are in effect.

03/06/2024

Two or three craters active

The eruption at Sundhnúkagígar crater row continued last night with similar intensity as yesterday. The lava flow was slightly eastwards last night but it will be examined later today. There has been very little seismic activity in the area.

02/06/2024

Celebrating Sailor's Day in Iceland

Sailor’s Day was celebrated around the country today. A large-scale celebration was held at the Reykjavík harbor, which drew a great deal of cheers from young and and old alike.

02/06/2024

Halla Tómasdóttir on winning the elections

“I haven’t slept much, but I feel incredibly good. My heart is full of gratitude and also a lot of humility towards the trust the people are showing me and maybe the fact that there was a record-breaking turnout and I feel like the people voted with their hearts,” Halla Tómasdóttir, Iceland....

02/06/2024

Steam rising up from a new fissure

Scientists at the Icelandic Met Office noticed yesterday morning that steam was rising at a defense wall near Grindavík. It is believed that a fissure has opened up there, but magma has not yet crept up there.

02/06/2024

A new President will take office in August

The final numbers are now in the elections for President of Iceland, and Halla Tómasdóttir will be the new President of Iceland and the seventh since the republic was founded.

31/05/2024

The defense walls in Grindavík are working

Those residents of Grindavík who need to enter the town today will be granted permission to do so, as will business owners who work on saving valuables.

31/05/2024

Lava was flowing at an unprecedented speed compared to previous eruptions

The lava flow rate since yesterday’s eruption is the fastest since the eruption at Sundhnúkagígar crater row in December of last year.

31/05/2024

One policeman had to go to the ER

Kristján Helgi Þráinsson, deputy director of the Reykjavík Metropolitan Police, says the police do what they need to do to solve problems that can arise during protests. He says the protests went too far and that one police officer had to go to the emergency room.

31/05/2024

Intense protests this morning outside a government meeting

Police used pepper spray on protesters gathered this morning at Skuggasund where a government's meeting was held.

31/05/2024

Sadly a frantic search did not save the man

A man who was missing after falling in Fnjóská River was found dead in the river by Dalsmynni, northwest of Ártún in Grýtubakkahreppur, northwest Iceland, this morning.

30/05/2024

Land sinking after weeks of inflation in Svartsengi

Land in Svartsengi sank about 15 centimeters when magma ran from the magma chamber into the Sundhnúkagígar crater row when the eruption began.