May 29, 2008 Earthquake: Reykjavik, Iceland
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Reykjavik, Iceland on May 29, 2008 at 15:46:00 UTC, 10 km below the surface.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- May 29, 2008
- Time
- 15:46:00 UTC
- Place
- Reykjavik, Iceland
- Magnitude
- 6.3 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 10 km (6 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 64.004° N, 21.012° W
- Country
- Iceland
The toll
- Injuries
- 30
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
About 30 people injured at Selfoss. Some sheep were killed, buildings damaged and utilities cut off in the Hveragerdhi-Selfoss area. The road between Reykjavik and Selfoss was damaged and rockslides occurred in Vestmannaeyjum. A steaming fissure opened in an existing area of geothermal springs. Felt (VIII) at Selfoss and Hveragerdhi; (V) at Keflavik; (IV) at Hafnarfjordhur, Kopavogur and Reykjavik. Felt at Akranes, Akureyri, Alftanes, Borgarnes, Eyrarbakki, Hvammstangi, Isafjordhur, Laugaras, Mosfellsbaer, Reykholar, Reykholt and Saudharkrokur. Also felt on Seltjarnarnes and Vestmannaeyjar. (reference #1053)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- 1164, Southland,grimsnes, Iceland
- 1013, Sudurland, Iceland
- 1182, Southland, Iceland
- August 26, 1896, Arnessysla, Iceland
- June 21, 2000, Grimsnes, Selfoss, Eyrarbakki, Stokkseyri, Iceland
- April 20, 1706, Selfoss, Iceland
- June 17, 2000, Vestmannaeyjar, Hella, Iceland
- August 14, 1784, Southland,arnessysla,bangar,sysla, Iceland
- July 23, 1929, Iceland
- August 28, 1924, Reykjavik, Iceland
- May 6, 1912, Iceland
More
Significant earthquakes of 2008The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2008Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 7880.