Smáhýsi við tjaldsvæðið í Grindavík

Oh Grindavík

Grindavík has now been reopened to general traffic. The town was evacuated exactly one year ago, on November 10, 2023, following a significant earthquake swarm that caused extensive damage to infrastructure and buildings. On December 18, 2023, an eruption began at Sundhnjúksgígar, just north of Grindavík and east of Svartsengi. Since then, the town has been more or less closed to general traffic, and permanent residence has not been allowed. However, business operations at the harbour have continued, as many strong fishing companies are based in Grindavík, and the Blue Lagoon has also remained open, though it has experienced frequent closures. In the past eleven months, there have been six eruptions in the area. The next eruption is expected in the coming weeks, according to a statement from Civil Protection at the beginning of November.

Being in Grindavík now is quite a unique experience. Few cars, all houses empty, as Icelandic Times checked in on this town where a year ago, four thousand people lived—1% of the nation’s population. This proportion is equivalent to all 4 million people in Boston being forced to leave their homes, or all 650 thousand residents of Liverpool, which is also 1% of the British population.