Grindavík reopened to the public on October 21, 2024. The decision to reopen is based on an ongoing risk assessment, which is regularly reviewed. The announcement highlights that several safety measures have been implemented in Grindavík, including mapping, geological surveys, geophysical measurements, and visual inspections. Crevices have been filled or fenced off, and load tests have been conducted to enhance safety.
As of October 2024, Grindavík is reopen to the public on Monday, October 21. Emergency personnel and the incident management team will maintain their current operations, with electronic monitoring of traffic in and out of the town to ensure safety in case of evacuation. The decision to reopen is based on an ongoing risk assessment, which is regularly reviewed. The announcement highlights that several safety measures have been implemented in Grindavík, including mapping, geological surveys, geophysical measurements, and visual inspections. Crevices have been filled or fenced off, and load tests have been conducted to enhance safety.
Final preparations are underway to install clear signage, with specific hazardous areas in the town being marked accordingly. However, despite these precautions, there remains a risk of ground subsidence into crevasses, particularly in and around Grindavík in open areas that have not been thoroughly inspected. The Chief of Police in Suðurnes emphasizes that anyone entering hazardous areas does so at their own risk, and that Grindavík is not a safe environment for children.
“Everyone is responsible for their own actions or inactions. The Chief of Police has also reiterated that Grindavík is not a place for children, a stance fully supported by the Grindavík committee,” the announcement states.
About Grindavík
Grindavík, a family-oriented village, is one of the nations strongest fishing industry townships, and home to well established processing plants and a large fleet of fishing ships.
Situated in a dramatic landscape of lava fields right next to the Atlantic Ocean, Grindavík boasts breathtaking natural beauty with priceless gems of nature, such as Eldvörp, Selatangar, Gunnuhver, Brimketill, the fierce lava, the Reykjanes Light House, and much more.
With the Blue Lagoon, the nations most popular tourist destination, on it‘s doorstep, Grindavik has enjoyed a tremendous growth in tourism. Grindavik welcomes and accommodates tourist with many services including a new camping area with state of the art facilities that opened in Grindavík in the summer of 2009.
The area surrounding Grindavik offers endless opportunities for adventure, from dramatic hiking trails, to bird-watching from the the cliffs along the shore of Reykjanestá. Visitor‘s can also tour a volcano, hike through caves, fish for trout, rent an ATV, or a horse, or just enjoy the countless sightseeing venues. From it‘s 18-hole ocean side golf course, to the Saltfisksetur Íslands, and a selection of great restaurants, Grindavik offers every imaginable service that a tourist might need.
On October 25, 2023, an earthquake swarm began north of Grindavík and intensified in the following days. By November 10, 2023, more than 22,000 earthquakes had been recorded since October 25, leading to the declaration of a state of emergency due to concerns of a possible volcanic eruption. Inhabitants were evacuated on the evening of 10 November 2023, after a magmatic intrusion was suspected to have formed beneath the town. Photographs from Grindavík taken on November 11 highlighted the damage to roads and the golf course resulting from fault movements triggered by seismic activity. On 18 December, a volcanic eruption north of Grindavík by Hagafell, prompted a further evacuation of the town.
On the morning of January 14, 2024, at 8:00 AM local time, another volcanic fissure erupted 450 meters (about 0.27 miles) from the town, with a second fissure opening around noon. Lava from these eruptions breached defensive barriers and destroyed three homes; however, civilians were not at risk as they had been evacuated overnight due to a series of earthquakes. There has now been 6 eruptions in the area since December 2023, and 9 in total since 2021.
