State of emergency in Iceland
Listen to the story (American accent)
Recently, Iceland has had many earthquakes, and experts say there might be a volcanic eruption soon.
The government declared a state of emergency, and people in Grindavík, a town in the southwest of the country, had to leave for safety.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) says there's a high chance of an eruption in the next few days. Thor Thordason, a professor at the University of Iceland, explained that there's a 15km-long (nine mile) river of magma under the ground near Grindavík.
Since October, there have been over 20,000 tremors in southwest Iceland. They're mostly in a place called Reykjanes Peninsula, which didn't have volcanic activity for 800 years until 2021.
The IMO said there's a tunnel of magma under Grindavík, and it's not very deep, which means there's a higher risk. They closed the famous tourist landmark Blue Lagoon and told people to leave Grindavík, but they said it's not an emergency yet. They want everyone to "remain calm, because we have a good amount of time to react."
All roads into the town of about 4,000 people are closed except for emergencies.
Alda Sigmundsdottir, a journalist in Reykjavik, said that people could go into the town to get their pets and things they really need.
Iceland has about 30 active volcanoes. Volcanoes erupt when magma comes up from deep inside the Earth.
In 2010, the volcano Eyjafjallajökull erupted. Smoke and ash from the eruption blocked the skies in Europe. 100,000 flights were canceled for about 10 million travelers.
Vocabulary26 words
- Earthquake
- a natural event where the ground shakes and moves suddenly and strongly, caused by the movement of rocks deep beneath the earth's surface
- Expert
- a person with great knowledge and experience in a trade or profession
- Volcano
- ?; a mountain or hill that sometimes explodes and hot earth, gas and smoke come out
- Volcanic
- Related to volcanoes
- Eruption
- When a volcano explodes and sends out hot rocks and ash; The sudden release of hot, melted rock (magma) from a volcano
- Government
- the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Declare
- to announce or express something clearly and publicly; proclaim; state
- State of emergency
- a situation of urgent need for help and relief; an emergency situation in which the government gets special power
- Safety
- being safe from harm or danger
- Chance(s)
- a possibility of something happening; odds;
- Magma
- Hot, red/orange melted rock inside the Earth
- Ground
- floor; earth; solid surface
- Tremor
- A small shake of the ground; a small earthquake
- Southwest
- ↙️
- Activity
- The state of being active or busy; something happening; busyness; action; events happening; movement
- Tunnel
- a long passage under or through the earth; ?
- Deep
- Very far down (the ocean is deep)
- Risk
- danger; chance of danger; the possibility of danger
- Landmark
- A famous or important place or thing
- Remain calm
- To stay quiet/relaxed and not get upset, worried or excited
- React
- to respond or show a response to something that happens; to act in a particular way as a direct result of something else
- Journalist
- A person who writes news stories or reports for a newspaper, magazine, or television station
- Active
- currently happening; currently working
- Ash
- the soft gray or black powder that is left after something burns, especially tobacco, coal, or wood; Fine gray or black dust that comes from a volcano;
- Flight
- a trip on a plane; travel by airplane
- Million
- 1,000,000 - one-million
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Recently, Iceland has _____ many earthquakes, and experts say there might be a volcanic eruption _____.
The government declared a _____ of emergency, and people in Grindavík, a town in the southwest of the _____, had to leave for _____.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) says there's a _____ chance of an eruption in the next few days. Thor Thordason, a _____ at the University of Iceland, explained that there's a 15 km-long (nine mile) river of _____ under the ground near Grindavík.
Since _____, there have been over 20,000 tremors in southwest _____. They're mostly in a place called Reykjanes Peninsula, which didn't _____ volcanic activity for 800 years until _____.
The IMO said there's a _____ of magma under Grindavík, and it's not very deep, which _____ there's a higher risk. They closed the _____ tourist landmark Blue Lagoon and told people to _____ Grindavík, but they said it's not an _____ yet. They want everyone to "remain calm, because we have a good _____ of time to react."
All _____ into the town of about 4,000 people are closed _____ for emergencies.
Alda Sigmundsdottir, a _____ in Reykjavik, said that people could go into the town to get their _____ and things they really need.
Iceland has about 30 _____ volcanoes. Volcanoes erupt when magma comes up from deep _____ the Earth.
In 2010, the _____ Eyjafjallajökull erupted. Smoke and ash from the eruption _____ the skies in Europe. 100,000 flights were _____ for about 10 million travelers.
Discussion questions
- What do you think the people of Grindavík were feeling during this time?
- What are some of the challenges that the government would face if the volcano erupted?
- Do you think it's important for experts to study earthquakes and volcanoes? Why or why not?
- How would you feel if you had to leave your town because of a natural disaster? What would be your concerns? What would you bring with you?
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