The Mayor addresses the residents of Grindavík and sends a holiday greeting

Fannar Jónasson, mayor of Grindavík, will address the town tonight and send out a Christmas greeting. He says he admires the resilience he has witnessed with the town’s people in recent weeks.

He recalls the decision of the Chief of Police in Suðurnes, announced yesterday afternoon, to lift all restrictions on the stay of town-dwellers in Grindavík.

“Streets and sidewalks are safe unless marked otherwise. All other areas in the town are unchecked, and therefore, children and adults should not be outside streets and sidewalks, as cracks may be hidden everywhere,” he writes in the address on the Grindavík town’s website.

Still some way to go until normal life resumes

“Unfortunately, it will take quite some time for the town to be ready to function again in traditional ways. Extensive repairs are ahead, especially on school buildings and sports facilities, to ensure that school activities can resume normally,” he writes.

“I urge Grindavik residents to be cautious, especially families with young children. The town's staff will continue to do their very best to fill in cracks and mitigate those that are found, but this work is not yet finished.”

He also says that the residents of Grindavík celebrate Christmas in many places around the country this year, “I know that the heart of the townspeople beats with our town, and before long, we will be home again”.

Here below is the Christmas greeting in full:

Dear Grindavik Residents,
As Christmas approaches, the uncertainty in Grindavik remains significant. I want to begin by expressing my admiration for the resilience I have witnessed among the townspeople in recent weeks. Also, I appreciate the immense understanding shown to us by the town and, at the same time, extend my gratitude to all the town's staff for working tirelessly since the evacuation began.

Earlier today, the emergency level was lowered to danger-level (hættustig)  but there is no visible activity in the volcanic eruption. According to a new hazard assessment from the Icelandic Meteorological Office (Veðurstofa Íslands), there is ground rupture near Svartsengi, and the land is rising faster than in previous eruptions in the Sundhnúkur craters.

Today, the police commissioner in the Suðurnes region decided to lift all evacuations in Grindavik from Saturday, December 23. This means that residents can be in the town around the clock. Streets and sidewalks are safe unless marked otherwise. All other areas in the town are unchecked, and therefore, children and adults should not be outside streets and sidewalks, as cracks may be hidden everywhere.

Unfortunately, it will take quite some time for the town to be ready to function again in traditional ways. Extensive repairs are ahead, especially on school buildings and sports facilities, to ensure that school activities can resume normally.

I urge Grindavik residents to be cautious, especially families with young children. The town's staff will continue to do their very best to fill in cracks and mitigate those that are found, but this work is not yet finished.

Between Christmas and New Year, the service center for Grindavik residents will be open at Tollhúsið, Tryggvagata 19 in Reykjavik, every weekday from 10 am to 5 pm. I encourage people to take advantage of the services available there and, not least, to come and meet other Grindavik residents. It is possible to visit or schedule an appointment to receive psychosocial support from professionals from the Icelandic Red Cross.

For all information about the Service Center, you can call 8552787 or send an email to fyrirspurnir@almannavarnir.is.

There, you can find useful information if distress reaches Iceland.is.
Even though Grindavik residents will celebrate Christmas across the country this year, I know that the heart of the townspeople beats with our town, and before long, we will be home again.

Wishing you joyful holidays,
Fannar