Clouds of volcanic ash, rivers of red hot moltenLiquefied by heat. rock and over 3,000 earthquakes in two days. Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano is on the brink of a major eruption, with scientists from The Icelandic MeteorologicalMeteorology is the science of weather. Office warning that it could happen within hours.¹

The volcano has been showing signs of increasing activity for weeks, with a series of earthquakes and small eruptions.

A major eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano could have devastating consequences. Volcanic ash can travel hundreds of miles and can cause serious problems for aircraft and infrastructure.

Scientists have long warned that a volcanic eruption could be catastrophic, possibly even causing mass extinctionCompletely dying out..² Here are six volcanoes that could completely shut down our world.

Catastrophic Katla: Katla, a volcano in Iceland, last erupted in 1918. If it erupts again, it is expected to be 10 times stronger than the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajokull. The volcano is known for its ferocitySavagery; brutality..

Mega-tsunami: Cumbre Vieja, a volcano on the Canary Island of La Palma, last erupted in 2021. A major eruption of this volcano could cause the entire western flank of the volcano to fall into the sea, creating a "mega-tsunamiA Japanese word describing a succession of waves caused when an earthquake or volcano displaces a large body of water." with waves hundreds of metres high. 

Ecuadorian exodus: Cotopaxi, a volcano in EcuadorA country in South America., has been rumbling on and off since 2022. A major eruption of this volcano could produce more than 100 million cubic metres of ash and affect hundreds of thousands of people living in the surrounding area.

Pompeii II?: Vesuvius, a volcano in Italy, last erupted in 1944. If it erupts again, it is expected to cause billions of dollars in damage due to the high population densityThe compactness of a substance or object. in the surrounding area. 

Mexican ash dance: Popocatepetl, a volcano in Mexico, has been experiencing recurring seismicOf enormous size or effect. activity for years. A large eruption of this volcano could send a city-sized cloud of ash to Mexico City, which has a population of over 22 million people.

Yellowstone extinction: The Yellowstone supervolcano in the US, last erupted 640,000 years ago. If it erupts again, it is expected to have a worldwide impact.

So why isn't anyone taking the threat of an eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano more seriously? Is it that we put our faith in our leaders and science to find a solution or is it that natural hazards such as climate change as well as hurricanes and earthquakes are so constantly in the news that people are simply becoming desensitisedMade less sensitive. to the risk.

Yes: Volcanic eruptions can have devastating consequences. The eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano is a reminder that we need to be prepared for the possibility of a major eruption.

No: Technology is constantly improving, and it is possible that we will develop new ways to protect ourselves from volcanic eruptions in the future. For example, we could develop new ways to filter volcanic ash from the air, or we could build new infrastructure that is more resistant to lava flows.

Or... There are many other planet-threatening risks, such as climate change and asteroid impacts. It is important to be aware of these risks, but it is also important to focus on the things that we can control.