7th May 2025

Media reporting - Civil Protection level: Uncertainty level

The Met Office updated the hazard assessment for the area yesterday, see hazard assessment map in the link that does not change.

The eruption that started at 9:44 am on the morning of 1 April 2025 ended at 16:45 am on the same day and lasted for about 6 hours, making it the shortest eruption in this eruption cycle on the Sundhnúksgíga ridge.

The Met Office updated the hazard assessment for the area yesterday, see hazard assessment map in the link that does not change. It applies until May 20th at 15:00, unchanged.

Landris continues in Svartsengi but its speed has decreased. Seismic activity has decreased at the magma channel.

The National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police in consultation with the Chief of Police in Suðurnes decided on April 8th to move the Civil Protection level from a crisis level to an uncertainty level. A press release on the change in the Civil Protection level was published on the Civil Protection website at 16:37 that same day.

The Implementation Committee for the Groundquake in Grindavík City updated the risk assessment for the urban area in Grindavík on April 9. The risk assessment was published on the website of Civil Protection on April 10th, see on the following link:

Results

Based on the risk assessment of the engineering office, which includes the Met Office’s hazard assessment and the protection measures that are in place and are constantly being worked on, the Executive Committee and the Department of Civil Protection concluded that the risks of all parties are moderate, meaning that there is good protection against risks, but there is a certain uncertainty.

The risk assessment of the engineering firm Örugg is carried out for three areas, i.e. 1) eruption/explosion area, 2) Svartsengi and 3) Grindavík (urban area). The assessment is carried out for four groups, i.e. 1) responders, consultants and contractors, 2) residents, 3) companies and 4) external parties and tourists.

In Grindavík the risk is estimated to be moderate for all parties, but high at night for residents, outsiders and tourists. In the Svartsengi area the risk is estimated to be moderate for all parties. In the eruption/explosion area the risk is however very high for first responders, consultants and contractors and unacceptable for outsiders and tourists. It is recommended that non-responsive persons do not enter the eruption/explosion area.

Every morning, and during the day, there are checks to see if any defences have worked and if they have been repaired where necessary.

The risk assessment is valid until a new risk assessment is issued.

Implementation committee for the earthquake in Grindavíkurbær

Department of Civil Protection.

The powers of the Chief of Police according to Article 23 of the law on civil protection no. 82/2008 do not work at the uncertainty level. At the uncertainty level the presence of the police and fire department is reduced into the urban area in Grindavík.

Police are generally in the town of Grindavík as well as in other municipalities in the Suðurnes region but do not have a regular presence in Grindavík. The risk assessment of the Commission for Groundquake Prevention in Grindavík includes the ability of the emergency response team to monitor at night.

The risk assessment does not include restrictions on access to the urban area in Grindavík. The Implementation Committee is responsible for implementing access controls in Grindavík town in cooperation with the police.

Those who enter a crisis zone do so on their own responsibility. Thus, each individual is responsible for their own actions or lack of action.

All traffic to and from Grindavík is open. The Blue Lagoon is open as well as the hotel Northern Light Inn.

In the area south of Vogar and Reykjanesbraut, explosives have been searched for in the past. The area is considered to be contaminated by active and passive bombs that can cause human loss if they explode, but temperature or movement can affect the area. Location within 300 meters from the center of a large bomb can cause human loss. The area contains cannonballs, mortars and training bombs. It is only for explosives experts to assess the condition and type of these bombs. Furthermore, no detailed information is available on the spread or size of this area, but the Icelandic Coast Guard has drawn the map below for information.

Inside this area, first responders and others must stay at marked hiking trails. This danger is highlighted by signs that have been standing at the beginning of hiking trails for decades. Locals and outdoors people who have walked through the area know this. It is necessary to raise awareness of these facts. It is recommended that the police chief inform tourists and those who provide information to foreign tourists to communicate this information to tourists. Travellers stay at marked hiking trails and trails. There are no organized parking spaces nor any facilities for viewing. Drivers do not park cars on and around Reykjanesbraut. The same applies to Grindavíkurvegur.

Conditions inside and outside of danger zones can change with little notice. In addition, dangers can be hidden outside the designated areas.

To raise awareness of the dangers, three warning whistles have been set up in Grindavík. One at the Blue Lagoon and another at HS energy in Svartsengi. They have been used with good results.

Emergency responders are working in Grindavík and police and firefighters are carrying out mandatory checks in the town as has been the case.

Useful information is on the website of Grindavík town on the trail, then it is pointed to the website of the Icelandic Met Office on the trail and the website of Civil Protection on the trail.

Those who are visiting a danger zone are advised to visit the website of the Environment Agency of Iceland, at the following address: It also contains good instructions. Information is also available on the website of the Directorate of Health, at the following address: and the website of the Administration of Occupational Safety and Health, at the following address:

The press release will be updated on or before 21 May 2025, as applicable.

This is hereby announced.