A pretty little town renowned for its tourism has been dealt a blow lasting weeks – with residents told to pack their bags and leave.
Grindavik in Iceland is on alert after a volcanic eruption is expected, with people given no date of when they can return.
But a silver lining is being floated by tourism bosses, who say the craters the seismic movement is creating will give holidaymakers even more to look at when the time is right.
Some are expecting to be away from their homes for months, as no real update is given on when the natural event could happen.
For now, people seem to be taking a keen interest in the various sections of the vast crater that has been appearing along the boundary of two separate tectonic plates.
It has stretched along a treacherous route, including underneath a Lutheran church, children’s playground and the town’s premier basketball team’s brand new stadium.
And this is all just a week before the season starts, reports the Independent.
People are able to hop across the trench at times – from the Eurasian tectonic plate onto the North American one – although other sections go so deep that it is difficult for the human eye to see the bottom.
Iceland’s spokesperson for tourism, Snorri Valsson, told the Independent that Grindavik’s story of chaos and survival could be an enticing one for visitors in future.
He said he can imagine they will “keep a couple of sites where you could see the actual crack in the ground if feasible”.
Another volunteer mentioned how English people would love the crater, adding it could become “the number one selfie spot in Iceland”.
Residents were recently allowed back into the town temporarily to collect more of their belongings, although a permanent return hasn’t been announced yet.
Authorities are still very worried that the volcano – Fagradalsfjall – will erupt.
Along with evacuating the town, authorities also closed the Blue Lagoon tourist destination, and plans are being considered to build defences around the geothermal power station nearby.
There are also discussions being had about pumping water onto any potential lava to protect Grindavik.
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