<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/12/iceland-experts-predict-feared-volcanic-eruption-could-destroy-town-near-reykjavik>
"Some of the more than 3,000 residents evacuated from an Icelandic fishing town
have been allowed to return briefly to their homes to collect pets and
essential belongings, as experts warned that a volcano could erupt within days
or even hours.
One resident from each household in one district of Grindavík was permitted to
enter their home for five minutes on Sunday in what Iceland’s civil defence
force called a “planned and controlled operation under the orders of the
police”.
The residents were driven in emergency vehicles and accompanied by civil
defence workers, and the force appealed to other residents “not to drive
towards Grindavík at all”. It added: “This is a responsibility and not a
trivial decision.”
A coastguard helicopter circled above the Þórkátlustað district of the town
ready to airlift residents out if the volcano erupted while they were
collecting pets and essential belongings, a spokesperson told the public
broadcaster RÚV.
The town, about 25 miles (40km) from the capital, Reykjavik, on Iceland’s
south-western coast, was evacuated early on Saturday after magma shifting under
the earth’s crust caused hundreds of earthquakes, likely precursors to an
eruption.
Danielle Rodriguez, an American basketball professional who plays and coaches
in Grindavík, described the emergency evacuation on X, saying her team’s
Saturday practice had been interrupted by “constant four- and five-magnitude
earthquakes”.
While she and her girlfriend were driving out of the town, one of their cars
broke down, she said. They pulled over to discuss where to leave it, she said –
at which point she “felt the most scared for my life I have ever been”,
The ground “started shaking so much I had to grab a hold of the car and, honest
to God, for a good 30 seconds I felt as though the ground was going to crack
open and take us both”, Rodriguez said. The pair eventually left on a minor
road because “on our second attempt on the main road, a huge bump appeared”.
Víðir Reynisson, the head of the civil defence force, told reporters on Sunday
that about 30 residents had been allowed to return for a short while, and it
would clear on Monday, after a further risk assessment, whether any more could
follow."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
