The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 4.8 Earthquake at a depth of 10.3 km roughly 8 km south of the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland, slightly before 7.35 am local time (which is GMT) on Sunday 13 October 2013. There are no reports of any damage or casualties arising from this quake, but strong shaking was felt as far away as Hella, over 100 km to the east and the quake was felt as far away as Hólmavík, 250 km to the north.
The approximate location of the 13 October 2013 Reykjanes Peninsula Earthquake. Google Maps.
Iceland lies directly upon the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a chain of (mostly) submerged volcanoes running the length of the Atlantic Ocean along which the ocean is splitting apart, with new material forming at the fringes of the North American and European Plates beneath the sea (or, in Iceland, above it). This leads most obviously to the famed volcanicity of Iceland; but Earthquakes here are very common too.
See also Steam explosions on Mount Kverkfjöll, Earthquake off the north coast of Iceland, Large Earthquake near Jan Mayen Island, The dangers of a modern Laki style eruption in Iceland and The Hekla Volcano - is the Gateway to Hell about to open?
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