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 eruptionAn act or instance of erupting., 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.

Iceland is home to hundreds of volcanoes, and eruptions are a common occurrence. However, 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 infrastructureThe basic systems and services that a country needs to keep it going.. In 2010, an eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland caused widespread disruption to air travel across Europe.²

Scientists have long warned that a volcanic eruption could be catastrophic, possibly even causing mass extinctionCompletely dying out..³ Here are six volcanoes that could completely shut down our world.

Catastrophic Katla: Katla, another 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.. It can send ash plumes high into the air, disrupting air travel and causing widespread damage.

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. The ash could clog drainage lines, poison water supplies, and short-circuit electrical lines.

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. The resulting ash plume could coat a surrounding region of 500 miles across in more than four inches of ash, destroying agricultureThe practice of farming and growing food from the land. and plunging the world into a volcanic winter.

So why isn't anyone taking the threat of an eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano more seriously? Some say that we put too much faith in our leaders and scientists to find a solution, absolvingDeclaring free from guilt or obligation. ourselves of responsibility to care. Others say we are just desensitisedMade less sensitive. because of all of the other bad news.

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.