Volcanic eruption threat forces evacuation in Iceland

Seismic activity has significantly increased since it began on Friday afternoon. The town of Grindavik was ordered to be evacuated around 1 a.m. in the morning, said the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management of Iceland on Saturday.According to Icelandic radio RUV, 4,000 people were evacuated.Measurements from the Icelandic Meteorological Office suggest that a lava tunnel may reach the surface. The possibility of magma directly under Grindavik has not been ruled out as of the early hours of Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.Elisabet Palmadottir, a natural hazard specialist at the office, told RUV that the probability of a volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula has increased with Friday night's events. However, it is currently impossible to determine the location or likelihood of a magma eruption.The operation of the nearby Keflavik airport continues as usual. Touristic services and tours were already curtailed earlier this week due to continued tremors.--IANSint/khz

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