Iceland prepares to defend geothermal plant from threat of volcanic eruption

GRINDAVIK, Iceland, Nov 14 (Reuters) – Icelandic authorities had been on Tuesday getting ready to construct defence partitions round a geothermal energy plant within the southwestern a part of the nation that they hope will shield it from lava flows amid issues about 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 practically 4,000 individuals 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 an announcement on Tuesday.

Almost 800 earthquakes had been recorded within the space between midnight and midday on Tuesday, fewer than the 2 earlier days, it stated.

“Much less seismic exercise usually precedes an eruption, as a result of you could have come so near the floor that you just can’t construct up numerous stress to set off giant earthquakes,” stated Rikke Pedersen, who heads the Nordic Volcanological Centre based mostly in Reykjavik.

“It ought to by no means be taken as an indication that an outbreak isn’t on the best way,” she stated.

Authorities stated they had been getting ready to assemble a big dyke designed to divert lava flows across the Svartsengi geothermal energy plant, positioned simply over 6 kilometres (4 miles) from Grindavik.

Justice Minister Gudrun Hafsteinsdottir instructed state broadcaster RUV that gear and supplies that would fill 20,000 vans had been being moved to the plant.

Building of the protecting dyke across the energy station was awaiting formal approval from the federal government.

A spokesperson for HS Orka, operator of the facility plant, stated it provides energy to your entire nation, though a disruption wouldn’t have an effect on energy provide to Reykjavik.

Virtually all of Grindavik’s 3,800 inhabitants had been briefly allowed again to their houses on Monday and Tuesday to gather their belongings, Iceland’s division of civil safety and emergency administration stated.

In Grindavik, lengthy cracks ran by way of the city centre, leaving its important avenue impassable, whereas steam may very well be seen rising from the bottom.

A number 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 necessary belongings earlier than Grindavik was as soon as once more declared out of bounds.

Native resident Kristin Maria Birgisdottir, who works for the city municipality, instructed Reuters on Tuesday she solely had the garments she had worn for work on the day the city was evacuated.

“I am getting ready in case I get an opportunity to go to my home and get a few 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 had been allowed to drive into Grindavik of their non-public automobiles accompanied by emergency personnel.

Most pets and livestock had been rescued from Grindavik by Monday evening, in response to charity Dyrfinna.

Throughout the afternoon, new metres put in close to Grindavik by the meteorological workplace detected elevated ranges of sulphur dioxide, main Grindavik to once more be totally evacuated at quick discover barely forward of schedule.

The company stated in an replace that whereas there have been no different indications of an eruption beginning, it couldn’t be dominated out for the reason that fuel doesn’t seem until magma is excessive within the earth’s crust.

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.