Iceland volcano: Thousands evacuated over eruption fears

Iceland declared a state of emergency on Saturday over fears of a volcanic eruption after a series of earthquakes. Authorities have ordered thousands of people living in the southwestern town of Grindavík to leave as a precaution. Thousands of tremors have been recorded around the nearby Fagradalsfjall volcano in recent weeks. However, seismic activity has decreased in south-west Iceland, according to scientists.

Class discussion: Where is Iceland located? Why does it have so many active volcanoes? Could you live in a country or region that had so many earthquakes and active volcanoes? The Ring of Fire has about two-thirds of the world’s volcanoes and 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes. Where is the Ring of Fire? What are the most seismically active areas in the United States? Where was the last U.S. volcanic eruption? What is a supervolcano and where is one located in the United States?