On January 14, a volcanic eruption struck the town of Grindavik, but the damage was limited to just a few houses. This success was achieved thanks to the proactive disaster response of the Icelandic people.
According to scientists, the damage could have been much greater if an earth barrier had not been erected upstream of the town to redirect the lava flow.
The Icelandic authorities and the workers who built the earthen wall saved the town before the magma could engulf the area. This has garnered worldwide admiration for Iceland’s swift response to the disaster.
Lava attacks the town of Grindavik on January 14, but the proactive measures taken by the Icelandic authorities and the citizens saved the area from being submerged by magma. (Photo: Futura Science).
Earlier, 4,000 residents of Grindavik were evacuated during the night of November 10 to the early hours of November 11, 2023, before a major magma eruption struck.
After the eruption on December 18, 2023, authorities allowed residents to return. However, they were evacuated again when the seismic monitoring system triggered a high alert, and a new eruption occurred on January 14.
The World Stands in Admiration
The eruption on December 18, 2023, unleashed a massive amount of lava upon the town of Grindavik. Subsequent predictions from scientists warned that similar disasters could occur in this area at any time.
This is why the Icelandic authorities decided to quickly construct a defensive wall 800 meters upstream from the town, measuring 2 kilometers in length and at least 4 meters high. It was designed to redirect the lava flow.
Construction began on January 2, and before the eruption on the 14th, the project was completed with a length of 1,500 meters.
The wall proved effective, successfully redirecting most of the lava that threatened the town. Without this wall, magma would have quickly invaded the town, resulting in immense damage to the infrastructure.
Scientists noted that the townspeople and nearby residents worked together to construct the wall as quickly as possible. This has impressed the world with Iceland’s proactive approach to a looming disaster.
According to Futura Science, the construction efforts only paused when they were just a few dozen meters away from the lava flow. At that point, they hurriedly moved construction equipment like excavators and bulldozers out of the imminent danger zone.
In reality, the high temperatures of the magma caused cracks in the earthworks. Fortunately, the wall succeeded in redirecting most of the lava, with only a small amount sneaking into the town. It caused damage to three houses, located 200 meters from the wall construction site.
Scientists warn that the town of Grindavik may continue to face new attacks from the volcano. However, it is certain that the Icelandic people are prepared to do everything they can to protect themselves and their community.
