Earthquake hits Iceland

An earthquake measuring approximately 6.1 (reports vary, some saying up to 6.7) on the Richter scale struck southwestern Iceland at 3.45 pm on Thursday. Morgunbladid (and others) report. The epi-center of the quake was southwest of Selfoss and was felt as far away as Ísafjordur in the West Fjords. The quake was approximately the same size as one on June 17 2000.

The bridge into Selfoss has been closed for security reasons and some roads in the southern part of the country have been damaged. There are reports of extensive damage to contents within homes near the epicenter.

The earthquake in Southern Iceland at 15.45 on Thursday afternoon caused damage to houses and furniture in many villages in the area. In many places cracks can be found in roads and the bridge over Ölfusá river between Thorlákshöfn and Eyrarbakki was closed for a few hours.

The earthquake which is estimated to be more than 6.1 on the Richter scale probably originated between Hveragerdi and Selfoss, approximately 50 kilometers from Reykjavík. The quake shook houses in the vicinity so strongly that pictures fell off the walls, TV sets turned over, book cases fell over and porcelain broke to pieces. Many residents were in shock but so far reports have now revealed serious injuries to people. However, some farmhouses were badly hit and sheep and other cattle were killed in at least one farm when the roof caved in.

Many residents in the villages of Hveragerdi, Selfoss, Thorlákshöfn, Eyrarbakki and Stokkseyri have described the scene at their homes as if a bomb had exploded. However, even though cracks have been found in walls of many buildings, no reports have been filed of residential buildings structures that have been seriously damaged. Police have advised people to stay outside. Those who have the chance to stay with relatives or friends outside the earthquake area for the night should do so.

The quake has brought back memories from the year 2000 when two earthquakes of about 6.5 on the Richter scale shook the southern part of Iceland. Residents say that even though this quake was not as strong as the quakes in 2000, it originated so close to the densely populated area that the damage was far greater.

At hospitals patients were kept outside for fear that another quake might hit the area. However around 19.00 scientists put forward the theory that there had really been two simultaneous quakes and this, they said, reduced the risk of a big afterquake. Still a series of small quakes has hit the area all afternoon, but none of them have been higher than 3.0 on the Richter scale.

Police from Reykjavík were quick to come to the scene. All in all about 300 aid workers are now said to be in the area. Minister of Justice, Björn Bjarnason, said on an interviwe on RÚV that all procedures seemed to have worked well. The weather at the scene is excellent and that helps to keep people calm.

Не самое приятное ощущение когда стены трясутся в течении 14 секунд... И это в Рейкъявике, не представляю что было в Кверагерви, там наверное очень здорово их тряхануло. Жертв нет, только несколько овец погибло.

30/05/2008 | 10:35

Earthquake Rocks South Western Iceland
At around 3:45 pm yesterday an earthquake hit the southwest portion of Iceland, measuring at 6.2 on the Richter scale. The earthquake’s epicenter has been placed somewhere around Ingólfsfjall mountain, 50 kilometers north of the town of Selfoss in southwest Iceland, but tremors could were felt all around the county.Homes in Hveragerdi and Selfoss suffered severe damage but no casualties were reported.

A series of aftershocks followed but none measured over 4.0 on the Richter scale.

Geologists classify this earthquake as a so-called “Sudurlands” (South Icelander) earthquake. Such earthquakes are normally large and followed by a series of other earthquakes, but are not related to volcanic activity. Volcanic activity is high in that area but geologist believe the Sudurlands earthquakes to be a part of other geological movement in the Earth’s crust. A similar earthquake hit the same area in 2000.

No houses collapsed (houses in Iceland are designed specifically to withstand earthquakes of this magnitude) but residents in Hveragerdi and Selfoss described the damage inside their houses as if there had been an explosion. Some bridges are damaged and in some places the roads have split open. Walls are cracked. In some places the roads were closed until yesterday evening. There are no reported casualties or serious accidents, but a number of people had small cuts from shattered glass.

The Civil Protection Department went to the highest alert, and people in Hveragerdi and Selfoss were advised to stay out of their houses, particularly those houses which appeared to have cracks in walls after the largest tremor. Rescue squads set up tents for the residents and people were evacuated from hospitals and retirement homes and had to stay outside while there was still thought to be a risk of large aftershocks. The state of alert was lowered yesterday evening.

The weather in south east was very good yesterday, sunshine and temperature around 17 °C.