The Icelandic town of Grindavik faced devastation when a recent volcanic eruption from the Svartsengi system destroyed three houses, leaving the once thriving fishing village deserted.
An evacuation order was issued on November 10, following seismic activity and suspected magma. Despite initial hopes of returning home, the next eruption occurred, with eyewitnesses describing it as “noticing the h— door open.”
Grindavik Residents Face Devastating Lava Eruption
Iceland volcano update pic.twitter.com/csdVF1bpNg
— Breakingnews (@janetking851241) November 24, 2023
follow BBC news journalist, Hermann Gunnarsson, Grindavik, a town on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula, continues to face the unrelenting force of nature as recent volcanic activity from the Svartsengi system destroyed three homes, leaving the once thriving fishing village deserted.
In the last three years, the Reykjanes peninsula, comparable in size to the UK’s West Midlands, has experienced five volcanic eruptions. On November 10, there was an evacuation order for Grindavik, which houses nearly 4,000 residents due to seismic activity and suspected magma.
However, despite the hope of returning home, devastating eruptions, including one in mid-December near the Sundhnuks crater series, occurred.
Gunnarsson who witnessed the horrific volcanic eruption, described the seismic activity as “watching the door h— open.”
He said: “I witnessed the eruption myself, then three hours after it started, I was driving home. Along the way from the capital, Reykjavik, to Keflavik airport, which leads to my town, Reykjanesbaer, I saw [a] fissure almost 4km long, spewing molten lava. It felt as if I was watching the gates of h— open.”
At that time, Grindavik initially avoided direct impact, however, subsequent eruptions and new fissures brought challenges and tragedies closer to the city.
Monitoring the eruption from the command of the Icelandic civil protection center in Reykjanesbaer, Gunnarsson shared that they observed a live feed of the Sundhnuks crater series.
A Fissure Appears Behind Grindavik’s Protective Wall
Iceland. 5.0 earthquake.. pic.twitter.com/MB0h9Tz6Dt
— JulietAwakened707 (@julietawakened1) November 24, 2023
In preparation for the January eruption, a large protective wall to prevent the lava flow from impacting the town and the nearby geothermal power plant was built.
However, Gunnarson noted that on January 14, smoke appeared from behind the protective wall, sparking fears of another fissure opening, potentially leaving the city vulnerable.
Vast protective walls prevent onlookers from identifying the source of the smoke, creating the uneasy feeling that other cracks may appear undetected behind them, exposing the city to potential danger.
Within minutes, residents were evacuated as lava hit Grindavik. A crack had appeared close to the houses, and the consensus among first responders on the scene was that there was not much that could be done to save the houses.
Grindavik Residents Say Government Response So Far ‘Unacceptable’
Can anyone in Iceland confirm that all is well in Iceland?????
Our MSM basically spent 5 minutes showing us pictures of a volcano that erupted a few weeks ago, and then nothing since….
Not a dickie bird#iceland pic.twitter.com/AnrkSdts9k
— AntiCensorship (@truthscant) January 29, 2024
As Icelanders watched to witness the surreal and heart-wrenching sight of houses being consumed by lava, the sudden eruption left Grindavik in disarray. Displaced across the country, residents face uncertainty about returning to their hometowns, with no specific date from the authorities.
A resident of the collapsed city, Pall Valur Björnsson, now in Reykjavik, criticized the government’s response, stating: “So far, all [their] actions have been characterized by haste and confusion, and the information given to the people of Grindavik has confused people rather than solving problems.
He continued: “All the administration surrounding the effort is completely unacceptable, and it is clear that the responders were not prepared for an event like this, which is truly extraordinary considering that this earthquake and eruption started three years ago.”
The upheaval against Grindavik residents since November 10 includes financial pressure, as mortgages on uninhabitable homes continue. Despite the unity in support, lingering trauma and the unknown future security of Grindavik cast a shadow over residents’ lives.
Grindavik Resident Says ‘Uncertainty Is Worst Enemy’ And Hopes His Home Is ‘Under Lava’
The eruption that began on December 18 was the strongest of the Reykjanes peninsula’s annual volcanic activity so far. it just ended yesterday. of the 4 eruptions (geologists say it could happen every year now for a century) it was the shortest and had the most lava… pic.twitter.com/Z1EnEYDo1V
— björk (@bjork) December 21, 2023
During a meeting with Grindavik residents in January, Bryndis Gunnlaugsdottir, a resident, shared her wish that lava had enveloped her home, and the room responded with resounding applause.
Elaborating on his sentiments, Gunnlaugsdottir told Gunnarsson. “It’s been 80 days since the transfer took place. In those 80 days, the people of Grindavik had no home. Our community is sick, and we don’t know what our future holds.”
Acknowledging the various tragedies, he continued: “I said I wanted my house under the lava because the uncertainty would end. I will be compensated and can build a new life and focus on the emotional pain that comes with losing a community, at least for a while.”
“I think many Grindavik residents agree that uncertainty is the worst enemy right now,” he added, per BBC news.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
