Iceland officials warn of ‘significant’ chance of volcanic eruption

Icelandic officials have evacuated the town of Grindavik, warning that a volcanic eruption is imminent. Cracks have appeared in the earth there, snaking under buildings, splitting streets and pouring steam into the air. And while magma hasn’t yet bubbled to the surface, experts say it probably will soon.

The volcanic activity is occurring on the Reykjanes Peninsula, about 25 miles southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital. The peninsula is where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull apart, allowing magma to bubble up to the surface periodically in a long history of eruptions.