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| Strong earthquake rocks Iceland | Strong earthquake rocks Iceland |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A strong earthquake measuring 6.1 has hit southern Iceland, 50km (30 miles) from the capital, Reykjavik. | A strong earthquake measuring 6.1 has hit southern Iceland, 50km (30 miles) from the capital, Reykjavik. |
| Residents in the capital felt buildings shake, but it is not yet clear if there were any injuries. | Residents in the capital felt buildings shake, but it is not yet clear if there were any injuries. |
| In the nearby town of Selfoss buildings are reported to have been damaged and residents have poured onto the streets in panic. | In the nearby town of Selfoss buildings are reported to have been damaged and residents have poured onto the streets in panic. |
| The US Geological Survey said the earthquake struck at 1546 GMT at a shallow 6.2 miles (10 km). | The US Geological Survey said the earthquake struck at 1546 GMT at a shallow 6.2 miles (10 km). |
| Paul Enarson, Professor of Geophysics at the Institute of Earth Sciences in Iceland, told the BBC that the earthquake happened in an area popular with tourists: | Paul Enarson, Professor of Geophysics at the Institute of Earth Sciences in Iceland, told the BBC that the earthquake happened in an area popular with tourists: |
| "It was close to the town of Selfoss and there is apparently, according to the preliminary news, considerable damage in that town," he said. | "It was close to the town of Selfoss and there is apparently, according to the preliminary news, considerable damage in that town," he said. |
| "Iceland is sitting on a plate boundary where the North America and Eurasian plates are drifting apart. So it's a country of volcanoes and earthquakes and so earthquakes are common but large earthquakes are relatively rare," he added. | "Iceland is sitting on a plate boundary where the North America and Eurasian plates are drifting apart. So it's a country of volcanoes and earthquakes and so earthquakes are common but large earthquakes are relatively rare," he added. |
| Aftershock possibility | Aftershock possibility |
| "The glass in the windows shook and everybody was just really scared," Audbjorg Olafsdottir, an economist in Reykjavik, told Reuters news agency. | "The glass in the windows shook and everybody was just really scared," Audbjorg Olafsdottir, an economist in Reykjavik, told Reuters news agency. |
| "In Selfoss, where it happened, I heard everything is broken and people are standing outside in the street and everybody is terrified," she added. | "In Selfoss, where it happened, I heard everything is broken and people are standing outside in the street and everybody is terrified," she added. |
| Danny Austin, a Briton who has been living in Reykjavik for a year, told the BBC the earthquake lasted about eight seconds: | Danny Austin, a Briton who has been living in Reykjavik for a year, told the BBC the earthquake lasted about eight seconds: |
| Iceland experienced a series of tremors in the same area in 2000 | |
| "It was fairly noisy. It sounded like thunder coming from the ground. The whole house was shaking, although we haven't had much damage here," he said. | "It was fairly noisy. It sounded like thunder coming from the ground. The whole house was shaking, although we haven't had much damage here," he said. |
| Iceland's national broadcaster RUV radio reported no injuries but said that the road between Reykjavik and Selfoss had been closed due to damage. | Iceland's national broadcaster RUV radio reported no injuries but said that the road between Reykjavik and Selfoss had been closed due to damage. |
| Authorities have advised residents in the area to leave their homes because of the possibility of aftershocks. | Authorities have advised residents in the area to leave their homes because of the possibility of aftershocks. |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the earthquake? Send your comments using the post form below: | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the earthquake? Send your comments using the post form below: |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |