Suðurlandsbrotabelti
Seismicity by period · derived statistics from Skjálftalísa (Icelandic Met Office)
Status (automatic)
No particular signs of unrest in the last 24 hours — 3 earthquakes recorded, within the system's normal range.Transform fracture zone between the Reykjanes belt and the Eastern Volcanic Zone — a plate boundary, not a volcano. Site of South Iceland's largest earthquakes (e.g. 1784, the 2000 South Iceland earthquakes and the 2008 Ölfus M6.3). (overview — more at vedur.is) · circle on the map = rough outline of the system (radius).
📜 Did you know?
The 1784 Skálholt earthquake (M7.1) destroyed Skálholt cathedral and killed three people. This directly caused the abolition of the Skálholt bishopric in 1785 and its transfer to Reykjavík — without this earthquake, Reykjavík might not have become the capital. The first South Iceland earthquake on 17 June 2000 (M6.5) struck on the national holiday; the second (M6.5) on 21 June; the 2008 Ölfus earthquake (M6.3) was the last large one.
Historical eruptions in the system — points colored by size, blue circle shows where we are now in time.
❓ What if a South Iceland earthquake occurs tomorrow?
SISZ is a fracture zone, not a volcano — no eruptions, but the largest earthquakes in southern Iceland. Most likely scenarios: M6.5+ event at 5-10 km depth on a SW-ENE plane. Historically they come in pairs (1784+1789; 2000 17 + 21 June). Impact: Damage to masonry and old buildings in Hveragerði, Selfoss, Hella. Ring Road temporarily closed (cracks, slumps). Bridges over Hvítá and Þjórsá at risk. Fatalities: Historically very low because of low-rise construction (concrete copes well); the 2008 M6.3 caused none. Sources: 2008 Ölfus quake, 2000 South Iceland earthquakes, Páll Einarsson 'Jarðskjálftar á Íslandi'.
This is not a forecast. Based on historical experience and official hazard assessments from the Met Office / Civil Protection.
Points = earthquake locations in the selected window, coloured by magnitude: M3+ · M2+ · smaller (a sample if more than 800).
Earthquakes
3
Largest
M1.1
M3,0+
0
Depth range
5–8 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 3 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M1.1 · count moment
Depth (0 km at top). Grey: fixed depth.
Magnitude distribution
Depth cross-sections — color by age (orange=newest, grey=older), point size by M. Rising cluster = possible magma intrusion.
Earthquakes
7
Largest
M1.1
M3,0+
0
Depth range
5–9 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 7 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M1.2 · count moment
Depth (0 km at top). Grey: fixed depth.
Magnitude distribution
Depth cross-sections — color by age (orange=newest, grey=older), point size by M. Rising cluster = possible magma intrusion.
Earthquakes
24
Largest
M1.1
M3,0+
0
Depth range
0–10 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 24 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M1.4 · count moment
Depth (0 km at top). Grey: fixed depth.
Magnitude distribution
Depth cross-sections — color by age (orange=newest, grey=older), point size by M. Rising cluster = possible magma intrusion.
Earthquakes
95
Largest
M1.3
M3,0+
0
Depth range
0–14 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 95 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M1.9 · count moment
Depth (0 km at top) — shallowing in the data (7.2→5.6 km). Grey: fixed depth.
Magnitude distribution
Depth cross-sections — color by age (orange=newest, grey=older), point size by M. Rising cluster = possible magma intrusion.
Earthquakes
307
Largest
M1.5
M3,0+
0
Depth range
0–17 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 307 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M2.3 · count moment
Depth (0 km at top). Grey: fixed depth.
Magnitude distribution
Depth cross-sections — color by age (orange=newest, grey=older), point size by M. Rising cluster = possible magma intrusion.
Earthquakes
1007
Largest
M2.9
M3,0+
0
Depth range
0–26 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 1007 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M3.2 · count moment
Depth (0 km at top). Grey: fixed depth.
Magnitude distribution
Depth cross-sections — color by age (orange=newest, grey=older), point size by M. Rising cluster = possible magma intrusion.
Earthquakes
1620
Largest
M2.9
M3,0+
0
Depth range
0–26 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 1620 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M3.3 · count moment
Depth (0 km at top). Grey: fixed depth.
Magnitude distribution
Depth cross-sections — color by age (orange=newest, grey=older), point size by M. Rising cluster = possible magma intrusion.
Note: before February 2026 about half of events lacked an automatic magnitude, so magnitude-dependent figures (b-value, count of M≥X) under-count earlier periods — the catalogue is not homogeneous across this window. Cumulative moment is barely affected.
Earthquakes
3196
Largest
M2.9
M3,0+
0
Depth range
0–26 km
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count · 3196 earthquakes · total moment ≈ M3.3 · count moment
Depth (0 km at top). Grey: fixed depth.
Magnitude distribution
Depth cross-sections — color by age (orange=newest, grey=older), point size by M. Rising cluster = possible magma intrusion.
Note: before February 2026 about half of events lacked an automatic magnitude, so magnitude-dependent figures (b-value, count of M≥X) under-count earlier periods — the catalogue is not homogeneous across this window. Cumulative moment is barely affected.
Earthquakes
9.335
Largest
M4.9
M3.0+
15
Days with data
1.656
This is a reduced view: it is built from the daily aggregate (counts, moment, magnitude bands, depth histogram) rather than individual events. Map points, the depth scatter, cross-sections and the migration fit are therefore missing — they need each event's location and depth. Counts, total moment and the b-value are exact, not approximated.
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count and moment
Total moment of all events in the window equals a single Mw 5.0
Magnitude distribution
<16178
1–21422
2–3157
3–412
≥43
Gutenberg-Richter b ≈ 0.96 ± 0.05 (i.e. likely 0.91–1.01, M≥1.7, n=308)
Note: before February 2026 about half of events lacked an automatic magnitude, so magnitude-dependent figures (b-value, count of M≥X) under-count earlier periods — the catalogue is not homogeneous across this window. Cumulative moment is barely affected.
Earthquakes
15.610
Largest
M4.9
M3.0+
25
Days with data
3.247
This is a reduced view: it is built from the daily aggregate (counts, moment, magnitude bands, depth histogram) rather than individual events. Map points, the depth scatter, cross-sections and the migration fit are therefore missing — they need each event's location and depth. Counts, total moment and the b-value are exact, not approximated.
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count and moment
Total moment of all events in the window equals a single Mw 5.0
Magnitude distribution
<111249
1–22527
2–3244
3–420
≥45
Gutenberg-Richter b ≈ 0.99 ± 0.04 (i.e. likely 0.95–1.04, M≥1.7, n=523)
Note: before February 2026 about half of events lacked an automatic magnitude, so magnitude-dependent figures (b-value, count of M≥X) under-count earlier periods — the catalogue is not homogeneous across this window. Cumulative moment is barely affected.
Earthquakes
48.387
Largest
M4.9
M3.0+
87
Days with data
6.443
This is a reduced view: it is built from the daily aggregate (counts, moment, magnitude bands, depth histogram) rather than individual events. Map points, the depth scatter, cross-sections and the migration fit are therefore missing — they need each event's location and depth. Counts, total moment and the b-value are exact, not approximated.
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count and moment
Total moment of all events in the window equals a single Mw 5.1
Magnitude distribution
<137619
1–28264
2–3772
3–480
≥47
Gutenberg-Richter b ≈ 1.01 ± 0.02 (i.e. likely 0.99–1.04, M≥1.7, n=1765)
Note: before February 2026 about half of events lacked an automatic magnitude, so magnitude-dependent figures (b-value, count of M≥X) under-count earlier periods — the catalogue is not homogeneous across this window. Cumulative moment is barely affected.
Earthquakes
113.022
Largest
M5.8
M3.0+
329
Days with data
10.521
This is a reduced view: it is built from the daily aggregate (counts, moment, magnitude bands, depth histogram) rather than individual events. Map points, the depth scatter, cross-sections and the migration fit are therefore missing — they need each event's location and depth. Counts, total moment and the b-value are exact, not approximated.
Earthquakes over time
Cumulative count and moment
Total moment of all events in the window equals a single Mw 6.4
Magnitude distribution
<185547
1–223129
2–32337
3–4286
≥443
Gutenberg-Richter b ≈ 0.98 ± 0.01 (i.e. likely 0.97–1.00, M≥1.7, n=5501)
Note: before February 2026 about half of events lacked an automatic magnitude, so magnitude-dependent figures (b-value, count of M≥X) under-count earlier periods — the catalogue is not homogeneous across this window. Cumulative moment is barely affected.
Depth is automatic and uncertain; earthquakes alone do not show magma movement — deformation (GPS) and gas are needed. Grey points: automatic fixed-depth values. b-value computed for M≥1.5 (automatic magnitudes make lower completeness unreliable). Preliminary data.
Earthquakes in the system
| Time (UTC) | Mag | Depth (km) | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-11 15:08 | M1.1 | 5.2 | Reykjanesskagi |
| 2026-09-11 13:24 | M0.6 | 8.0 | Reykjanesskagi |
| 2026-09-11 04:52 | M-0.0 | 7.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-10 17:41 | M0.7 | 5.1 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-10 13:04 | M0.2 | 5.2 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-10 12:49 | M0.2 | 8.9 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-10 11:27 | M0.0 | 6.6 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-09 17:48 | M0.5 | 6.4 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-09 14:28 | M0.8 | 1.1 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-08 17:31 | M-0.1 | 8.3 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-08 10:29 | M0.7 | 8.4 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-08 09:53 | M0.3 | 4.9 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-08 08:40 | M-0.5 | 4.9 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-08 06:05 | M-0.0 | 5.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-08 05:32 | M-1.1 | 4.8 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-08 04:49 | M-0.2 | 6.1 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-08 04:02 | M0.0 | 5.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-08 03:56 | M-0.1 | 4.7 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-08 02:24 | M-0.4 | 8.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-06 23:37 | M0.5 | 7.4 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-06 13:39 | M0.0 | 0.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-05 23:18 | M-0.3 | 9.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-05 18:54 | M-0.6 | 0.0 | Reykjanesskagi |
| 2026-09-05 01:26 | M0.5 | 10.4 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-04 17:53 | M0.7 | 0.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-04 01:17 | M-0.3 | 4.9 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-02 06:22 | M1.1 | 6.8 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-02 06:02 | M0.5 | 5.1 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-01 15:17 | M0.3 | 0.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-01 07:58 | M0.1 | 5.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-01 07:38 | M0.3 | 4.9 | Other areas |
| 2026-09-01 06:50 | M0.1 | 4.9 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-31 22:35 | M-0.3 | 6.7 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-31 19:45 | M0.1 | 0.5 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-31 02:31 | M0.2 | 8.7 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-30 13:20 | M0.5 | 4.7 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-30 02:39 | M0.0 | 9.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-29 23:04 | M-0.0 | 4.2 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-29 10:56 | M-0.2 | 6.7 | Reykjanesskagi |
| 2026-08-28 23:34 | M0.7 | 7.1 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-28 03:33 | M-0.1 | 6.3 | Reykjanesskagi |
| 2026-08-28 03:07 | M1.0 | 5.1 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-28 01:44 | M0.2 | 6.4 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-27 11:07 | M0.2 | 2.2 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-27 09:45 | M0.8 | 5.9 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-27 06:21 | M0.6 | 7.5 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-27 06:05 | M0.1 | 6.6 | Reykjanesskagi |
| 2026-08-27 05:43 | M0.1 | 7.4 | Reykjanesskagi |
| 2026-08-27 05:07 | M-0.0 | 7.2 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-27 03:17 | M-0.2 | 7.5 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-26 21:42 | M-0.2 | 0.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-24 19:19 | M0.5 | 4.3 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-24 19:15 | M0.3 | 5.8 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-24 18:14 | M0.5 | 13.8 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-23 22:27 | M1.3 | 4.5 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-23 20:58 | M0.5 | 9.2 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-23 16:28 | M0.5 | 0.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-22 18:06 | M1.3 | 10.0 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-21 09:03 | M0.1 | 7.1 | Other areas |
| 2026-08-21 04:21 | M0.2 | 7.4 | Other areas |
System journal
Automatic snapshots and media coverage, in chronological order. Subscribe: RSS · ntfy
skjalftar-sudurlandsbrotabelti2026-08-25 08:35:08 UTC
In the last 24 hours, 23 earthquakes were recorded in the South Iceland Seismic Zone, a transform fault zone and not a volcano, with activity now increasing compared to the weekly average. This increase is characterized by distributed background activity rather than swarms and is higher than usual for this area, with a β-value of 4.7. The largest earthquake was M2.4 and the cumulative moment over the last 48 hours is Mw 2.6, though results are automatic preliminary results. Activity most closely resembles the period around June 10, 2026, and further charts and maps are available below on the page.2026-07-17 00:40:04 UTC
Over the last 24 hours, 15 earthquakes were detected in the South Iceland Seismic Zone, a transform fault zone on a plate boundary where the largest earthquakes in South Iceland occur. This activity is increasing compared to the average of recent weeks, but is still considered within what is normal for this area. The activity consists of scattered background activity rather than swarms, with 73% of events over the last seven days being independent, closely resembling the period around 10 April 2025. The largest earthquake in the last 48 hours was magnitude 1.4 and the total cumulative moment magnitude in the area was 1.6 Mw, although it should be noted that these are automatic preliminary results with unreliable depth estimates.2026-06-07 00:20:06 UTC
In the last 24 hours, 13 earthquakes were recorded in the South Iceland Seismic Zone, a transverse fault zone and not a volcano. Activity is similar to the past week and considered normal for this area, characterized by distributed background activity rather than swarms, resembling the period around September 14, 2024. The cumulative magnitude over the last 48 hours was Mw 1.3, with the largest event at M0.8. These figures are automatic preliminary results, and further details are available below.2026-06-05 09:25:07 UTC
In the last 24 hours, 14 earthquakes were recorded in the South Iceland Seismic Zone, which is a transform fault zone and not a volcano. Activity is similar to the past week but slightly higher than usual for this area, characterized by distributed background activity rather than swarms. The largest earthquake was M2.4 and the cumulative magnitude over 48 hours is Mw 2.5; these figures are automatic preliminary results. Current activity most closely resembles the period around September 14, 2024.2026-06-04 05:10:10 UTC
In the last 24 hours, 19 earthquakes were recorded in the South Iceland Seismic Zone, a transform fault zone and not a volcano, with activity now increasing above the usual rate for this area. The increase is characterized by distributed background activity rather than distinct swarms and most closely resembles the period around May 9, 2025. The cumulative moment over the past 48 hours is Mw 2.5, and the largest earthquake was M2.4. These automatic preliminary results are based solely on measurements, and further data are available below.2026-06-03 23:35:11 UTC
In the last 24 hours, 17 earthquakes were recorded in the South Iceland Seismic Zone, a transverse fault zone and not a volcano, with activity increasing compared to the weekly average. This increase consists of distributed background seismicity rather than swarms and remains within normal levels for this area. The cumulative magnitude over the past 48 hours was Mw 1.5, and current activity most closely resembles the period around August 12, 2024. Results are automatic preliminary results, and further data can be found below.2026-06-03 10:30:18 UTC
In the last 24 hours, 19 earthquakes were recorded in the South Iceland Seismic Zone, a transform fault zone and not a volcano, with activity now increasing compared to the weekly average. This increase represents slightly higher than usual activity for the area and is characterized by distributed background seismicity rather than swarms. The largest earthquake in the last 48 hours was M1.6, with a cumulative moment of Mw 1.9 for the period. Results are automatic preliminary data and most closely resemble the period around August 12, 2024.2026-06-01 21:20:14 UTC
In the last 24 hours, 18 earthquakes were recorded in the South Iceland Seismic Zone, a transverse fault zone and not a volcano, indicating distributed background activity rather than a swarm. Activity is increasing compared to the weekly average but remains within normal levels for this area, most closely resembling the period around November 26, 2025. The cumulative magnitude over the past 48 hours was Mw 1.8, and these results are automatic preliminary data. Further details on trends and maps can be found lower on the page.2026-05-29 21:07:03 UTC
In the last 24 hours, 10 earthquakes were recorded on the South Iceland Seismic Zone, a transverse fault zone and not a volcano, with activity now increasing and slightly higher than usual for this area. This reflects distributed background activity rather than distinct swarms and is most similar to the period around April 12, 2025. These figures are automatic preliminary results, and further details can be found below.2026-05-29 11:07:02 UTC
In the last 24 hours, 11 earthquakes were recorded on the South Iceland Seismic Zone, a transform fault zone and not a volcano, with activity now increasing and slightly higher than usual for this area. This increase is characterized by distributed background activity rather than short-lived swarms, with a β-value of 2.4 representing a deviation from the two-year average. The largest earthquake in the last 48 hours was M0.8 with a cumulative moment of Mw 1.3, and these results are automatic preliminary data. Activity most closely resembles the period around June 18, 2024, and further details are available below.What do the numbers mean — and what should I do?
β (swarm signal): how high activity is versus the area's 2-year average. β above 2 means an ongoing swarm. It measures activity, not a forecast of a large quake.
Cumulative moment (Mw): the combined energy of the quakes in the period. Uplift (GNSS): whether the ground is rising or sinking, mm per year — the data are a few weeks old. Some systems (e.g. Svartsengi) deform in steps during eruption cycles rather than at a steady annual rate.
Swarm character is computed for a whole volcanic belt, not a single system — it describes the belt, not necessarily this one system.
What should I do? This is automatic monitoring for information — not an official warning. Follow official information from the Icelandic Met Office and Civil Protection (112).