Conflicting predictions difficult for the residents of Grindavík
Páll Valur Björnsson, former MP, at a meeting for resdients of Grindavík in Laugardalshöll last January. mbl.is/Arnþór
Páll Valur Björnsson, a former MP and resident of Grindavík, says he tries to be content with his day and doesn’t overreact to the researchers’ analysis that either a volcanic eruption could start tomorrow or this autumn close to his hometown. He and his family intend to keep going as they are today and apply for the government to buy their property in Grindavík.
The family has settled in a rented apartment in Reykjavík and plans to stay there in the foreseeable future.
“I try not to think too much about this. I’m will go through this buy-out of my house, and then we will just see. I’ve been to Grindavík a few times to get our belongings, and I have to say, at the moment, when you drive through town, you’re kind of shocked,” he says, referring to all the cracks and destruction that can be found within Grindavík town. “It’s clear that this is going on, and most of the volcanologists say it’s just the beginning, although some time can pass between the two events,” Björnsson says.
He points out that seismic activity has been south and west of Mt Þorbjörn and says the big question is always where a volcanic eruption occurs next.
But will it be safe?
“We saw what happened when the eruption happened within the defensive areas. And there are cracks and fissures everywhere in Grindavík. I was in the town council in Grindavík when this all started. We had various scenarios drawn up and I don’t remember the scenario where we were shown that there are three cracks right underneath Hópsskóli Elementary School. My heart just skipped a beat when I saw that,” he says.
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When asked how different predictions made by volcanologists affect the people of Grindavík, he says they create a lot of discussion on social media and that people just scratch their heads about them. He points out that the residents of Grindavík have already had to deal with big challenges and that conflicting information doesn’t make things any better.
“Some people took these predictions, that the magma flow would be over this summer, as good news. I don’t believe it’s over, but I’m no expert on this stuff. It’s been an extremely difficult time mentally, and you have to stay on the ground. Hopefully, it’ll end as soon as possible, but I don’t believe in that,” he concludes.
