Two significant earthquakes were recorded near Reykjanestá shortly before 5 p.m. today, with the largest measuring 5.3 in magnitude, according to Jóhanna Malen Skúladóttir, a natural hazard specialist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office. The magnitude of the smaller tremor is still being assessed.

Despite the apparent subsiding of the eruption, seismic activity remains strong, with continued tremors detected in the northeastern section of the magma corridor, according to Benedikt Halldórsson, director of natural hazards at the Icelandic Meteorological Office.

A man who brandished a firearm at two rescue workers during the evacuation of Grindavík this morning was arrested at the scene, according to senior police officer Gunnar Schram of the Suðurnes Police.

The ongoing volcanic eruption at the Sundhnúkagígar crater row continues to intensify, with the eruption fissure now stretching approximately 1,200 meters and expanding southward.

A significant earthquake swarm is currently underway along the Sundhnúkagígar crater row, with clear signs that magma is moving beneath the surface. GPS data and pressure measurements in boreholes indicate that a magma run has begun, increasing the likelihood of a volcanic eruption.

An eruption has begun on the Reykjanes Peninsula, the eleventh in just over four years and the eighth since December 2023.

A volcanic eruption broke out just north of the Grindavík defense wall at 10:00 AM this morning, following an intense earthquake swarm in the area. While the eruption was anticipated, its initial strength has come as a slight surprise to experts.

The proximity of the volcanic fissure to Grindavík can be seen in the video that a mbl.is photographer recently captured from the air.

The Icelandic Red Cross has launched the 3dagar.is campaign (3 days campaign) to encourage citizens to be better prepared for emergencies.

Four domestic cats have mysteriously disappeared from Kársnes in March, raising concerns among pet owners in the area. Residents suspect the animals were deliberately taken and relocated to another municipality, sparking widespread worry and frustration.

A tragic accident occurred today on Iceland’s Ring Road near the Eyjafjöll mountains when falling rocks struck a vehicle carrying three foreign women. The driver did not survive.

Kristófer Daði Davíðsson, Maren Eir Halldórsdóttir, and Eva María Jónsdóttir are first-year police science students with a shared background in Western Iceland. Davíðsson is from Borgarfjörður, Halldórsdóttir from Hvanneyri, and Jónsdóttir from Akranes. Aged 21, 22, and 24, respectively, they are on the path to realizing their long-held dreams of becoming police officers.

“Technology evolves so rapidly that we cannot predict its consequences. The landscape could be entirely different in a year or two. This is a very serious issue,” warns Ragnar Jónasson, author and vice-chairman of the Icelandic Writers’ Association.

“Finding themselves as artists in the community has been incredibly empowering for our participants. Instead of focusing on their illness, they have been creating, discovering their artistic identity, and simply enjoying the process. Moving the project out of the hospital and into a public space was key in bridging connections between people. Our partners feel the same—it is truly rewarding to see how much participants enjoy being among peers. We witness a significant transformation in them after taking part in Kúnstpása.”

According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, seismic activity intensified overnight near the Sundhnúkagígar crater row and the Grindavík area. Around ten earthquakes were recorded near the magma tunnel, prompting heightened vigilance among monitoring teams.

Iceland’s education system is not yielding the expected results despite significant investment, according to Andreas Schleicher, head of education at the OECD, which conducts the PISA assessments. Schleicher argues that Icelandic students often receive high grades that do not accurately reflect their performance, raising concerns about the country’s academic standards.

Europe has reaffirmed its unwavering support for Ukraine, making it clear that trade sanctions against Russia will remain firmly in place. This was the key message from a high-level summit in Paris, where leaders from 27 European nations gathered to discuss ongoing aid for Ukraine, ceasefire negotiations, and long-term security measures.

Volcanologist Þorvaldur Þórðarson cautions that it is impossible to predict if or when another eruption will occur on the Reykjanes Peninsula, as the assumptions previously used to forecast eruptions are no longer reliable.

A new survey by Maskína for Vísir shows the Independence Party leading with 24.3% support, making it the largest political party in the country. The Social Democratic Alliance has gained ground, while the Liberal Reform Party remains stable and the People's Party sees a decline.

The notorious Venezuelan criminal organization El Tren Aragua has established “connections to Iceland,” according to a recent report by the news commentary program Þetta helst, on RÚV, the National Broadcasting Corporation.

In a groundbreaking initiative, 16,000 people in Iceland have been invited to take part in a major study on quality of life after cancer.

Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, Minister of Industry and Trade, and Daði Már Kristófersson, Minister of Finance, introduced a proposal today to amend the law on fishing fees, which includes adjustments to the registered catch values for both demersal and pelagic fish.

The ongoing inflation and frequent earthquakes on the Reykjanes Peninsula suggest that a new eruption may be imminent, according to Páll Einarsson, professor emeritus of geophysics at the University of Iceland. "The inflation continues, and earthquakes are occurring correspondingly. Everything points to a magma run before too long," Einarsson stated when discussing the current situation.

“There was something that happened in 2023. That was the biggest increase in violent crimes and criminal offenses we’ve seen. All the numbers went up,” says Páley Borgþórsdóttir, police chief for the Northeastern Police. She explains that while authorities had hoped for a reversal, the situation has not improved.

The Icelandic Fisheries Industry Association (SFS) has strongly criticized the government’s plan to double fishing fees, a proposal set to be presented today. According to the association, the move will lead to job losses, reduce state revenue, and ultimately harm the country's fisheries sector.

Just after midnight, the Emergency Line received a distress call from Langjökull glacier, near the mountain Klakka. Upon investigation, it was found that two men traveling on snowmobiles had encountered significant trouble.

Historian and journalist Guðmundur Magnússon is working on a biography of his great-uncle, the poet Jóhann Jónsson (1896–1932), whose works are widely considered to mark the beginning of modern poetry in Iceland. Jónsson, who died young from tuberculosis, left behind poems that still resonate with Icelanders, including the well-known piece Söknuður ("Longing"), which begins with the haunting lines, "Where did the days of your life lose their color?"

Guðmundur Ingi Kristinsson has been appointed the new Minister of Education and Children’s Affairs, taking over from Ásthildur Lóa Þórsdóttir. The change, confirmed in a statement by the People’s Party, took effect today.

Reports of wild bird deaths in Iceland have sharply decreased, according to a statement from the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (IFVA), suggesting that the spread of bird flu may be slowing. Despite this, the occasional case of severe bird flu continues to be diagnosed, underscoring that the epidemic is far from over.

Eggert Jóhannesson, a photographer for Morgunblaðið and mbl.is, has been awarded the News Photo of the Year 2024 by the Icelandic Press Photographers Association. The prestigious award was presented for his striking photograph taken in January 2024 during the search efforts in Grindavík for Lúðvík Pétursson, who went missing while working to fill cracks for the Icelandic Natural Disaster Insurance Agency.

A recent meeting of the Niceair bankruptcy estate has confirmed that creditors will not receive any funds, as the estate was declared assetless.

The Prime Minister's Office has denied allegations that it breached confidentiality in a case involving Ásthildur Lóa Þórsdóttir, the outgoing Minister of Children and Education.

The Norwegian midfielder and former Liverpool player, John Arne Riise, will be attending Jói Útherji in Ármúli next Saturday and will be there to meet guests and passersby and sign autographs.

Ásthildur Lóa Þórsdóttir, the outgoing Minister of Education and Children's Affairs, has issued a statement following coverage that she had sex with a 15-year-old boy when she was 22. She had her first child with him.

Ásthildur Lóa Þórsdóttir, Minister of Children’s Affairs in Kristrún Frostadóttir’s government, has resigned following revelations that she had a child with a 15-year-old boy when she was 22 years old, over 30 years ago.