Iceland Warns of Possible Volcanic Eruption Coming Within Days

(Bloomberg) -- Residents of Iceland's capital Reykjavik were told to brace for a possible volcanic eruption some time in the coming hours or days, though authorities said there was no indication the event would pose a threat to human life or property.

Iceland's Met Office said a volcanic area close to the capital was expected to release lava slowly over the next few weeks, with the development potentially triggering earthquakes with a magnitude of up to 6.5 on the Richter scale.

The event would be unlikely to affect air traffic, the office said, though flights within a 120 kilometer radius (75 miles) might experience some disruptions.

One of the most disruptive volcanic eruptions in Iceland's recent history occurred in 2010, when Eyjafjallajokull released a plume of ash so vast that it grounded air traffic for weeks.

Iceland, which has 30 volcanic systems and more than 600 hot springs, straddles tectonic plates on the mid-Atlantic ridge, making it one of the most geologically active places on the planet.

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