Small Earthquake Swarm Detected Under Mýrdalsjökull Glacier

2026-02-06 - 12:38

A short-lived swarm of small earthquakes was detected beneath Mýrdalsjökull glacier in South Iceland on Thursday evening, according to measurements from the Icelandic Meteorological Office. As reported by mbl.is, the activity began at approximately 18:20 and continued for around 20 minutes, during which at least seven earthquakes were recorded. The largest measured 1.6 on the Richter scale, placing it in the lower range of seismic magnitude. What's the Story? Earthquake swarm detected beneath Mýrdalsjökull in South Iceland At least seven earthquakes recorded by the Icelandic Meteorological Office Activity began around 18:20 and lasted about 20 minutes Largest earthquake measured magnitude 1.6 Mýrdalsjökull. Photo: Milan Nykodym, CC. Minor seismic activity Jarþrúður Ósk Jóhannesdóttir, a natural hazards expert at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, confirmed the details in comments to the news agency, describing the activity as a typical earthquake swarm. Such swarms, sometimes referred to as seismic waves, are not uncommon in geothermally and volcanically active areas of Iceland. Due to the low magnitude of the earthquakes, it is considered unlikely that the tremors were felt by residents in nearby communities, including Vík í Mýrdal. No damage or disruption has been reported in connection with the seismic activity. Mýrdalsjökull covers the Katla volcanic system, one of Iceland’s most closely monitored volcanic areas. While small earthquake swarms are regularly observed in the region, they do not in themselves indicate an imminent eruption. For background on how seismic activity is monitored in Iceland, see this Iceland Review explainer on how earthquakes are monitored in Iceland. The Icelandic Meteorological Office continues to monitor seismic activity across the country and publishes real-time updates on its public monitoring systems.