The National commissioner in agreement with the Police Department of the North-East Iceland declared the uncertainty level because of the ongoing uplift at Askja volcano. In the last weeks fast deformation changes have been measured in Askja, both from GPS stations and processed satellite images. The uplift has reached about 7 centimeter and that is a significant change over this temporal period.

GPS observations and ground deformation maps derived from Sentinel-1 satellite data reveal that Askja volcano began inflating at the beginning of August 2021. The uplift signal is centered on the western edge of Öskjuvatn, close to Ólafsgígar. The cause of such inflation is uncertain, but most likely it is due to the inflow of new magma. Active volcanoes in Iceland, like Askja, are often characterized by periods of inactivity, lasting years to decades, with intervals of enhanced seismicity, geothermal activity, and inflation. In most cases, magmatic intrusions do not culminate into an eruption.

Updated 03.05 12:15

The eruption in Fagradalsfjall continues 

through one main crater. The active crater is the fifth fissure opening that opened in the area on the 13^th of April. Since the 27^th of April, the volcanic activity was characterized by continuous lava fountains, while the activity changed at around midnight on the 2^nd of May, and has since  been showing pulsating behaviour. 

Considering these changes in activity, the size of the hazard area at the eruption site is being re-evaluated.