Eruption Likely Within Weeks as Magma Accumulates

2026-03-17 - 10:06

An accumulation of magma beneath southwest Iceland has reached its highest level since eruptions began in the Sundhnúkagígar crater series. As reported by RÚV, there is now an increased likelihood of renewed volcanic activity in the near future. What's the Story? Magma levels beneath Svartsengi higher than at any point since eruptions began in the Sundhnúk crater series Increased likelihood of an eruption within days or weeks, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office Continued uplift and magma inflow recorded eight months after the last eruption in the series Svartsengi Power Station. Photo: Golli. Iceland Review. Volcanic activity rising According to Icelandic Meteorological Office, scientists are closely monitoring conditions beneath Svartsengi, where magma has been steadily accumulating. Experts now consider it more likely that an eruption could occur within weeks rather than months. Kristín Jónsdóttir, head of natural hazards at the Meteorological Office, said magma levels have exceeded those recorded before the most recent eruption in April last year. “The magma influx has been very slow recently,” she said. “Of course, we interpret this to mean that we are just very close to these tolerance limits and it is simply coming to an eruption.” She noted that increased magma could influence the scale of a future eruption. “More magma could mean, yes, that there will be a larger eruption. Regarding the source location, we are always talking about this same place as before – we are talking about the Sundhnúkagígar crater series.” Although activity has slowed, uplift and continued magma flow indicate that the volcanic system remains active. “This is just a very slow influx and I think we have reached this tolerance level now. Whether it is days or weeks, or whether we have to wait a few more months, which I now think is perhaps unlikely, but we are somewhere there,” she said.