Strong houses in Iceland
The ground has been shaking in recent days in Reykjanes, with many thousands of earthquakes in the span of 24 hours. The earthquakes were a precursor to the eruption that started today, Wednesday, August 3, at 13:30 in Fagradalsfjall. The eruption occurred in the same area as the eruption that began on March 19 last year.
Iceland is, of course, a volcanic country where large earthquakes are frequent. In the last 100 years, there have been 16 huge earthquakes in Iceland, earthquakes greater than 5 on the Richter scale. These are the largest ones:
Dalvík (6.8), 1934
At the mouth of Skagafjörður (7.0), 1963
Brennsteinsfjöll in Reykjanes (6.0)
Öxarfjörður (6.3) 1976
Two earthquakes in Suðurland (both up to 6.6) in 2000
By Grímsey (5.8) 2020
By Mt. Keilir (5.7) 2021 – preceding the eruption in Fagradalsfjall last year.
The other day by Grindavík (5.5), a precursor of the eruption that started today.
Buildings in Iceland are strong; they can withstand large earthquakes. Icelandic Times / Land & Saga went to Hafnarfjörður and photographed houses and buildings. A large part of the town is built on lava, and the distance to the volcanic eruptions in Fagradalsfjall is short. Homes in the capital area are designed to withstand earthquakes well over 6. Even stricter requirements are imposed on houses in the south and from Húsavík to Kópasker, but there is the greatest risk of large earthquakes in these areas.
Hafnarfjörður 03/08/2022 : A7R IV: FE 1.2/50mm GM
Ljósmyndir & texti : Páll Stefánsson
