People were staying in 20 houses in Grindavík

People stayed in 20 houses in Grindavík last night and harbor activities have begun in the town. In comparison, people were staying in 56 houses the previous night before evacuations were taken. There are hopes that the Njarðvík pipeline will remain intact so that it will not be repeated when the water went down in Reykjanes last February. Responders are mainly concerned about gas pollution.

This is stated in an interview with Úlfar Lúðvíksson, the police chief in Suðurnes.

Mainly gas pollution that can disturb

"The situation is quite good," Lúðvíksson says.

"What can disturb us most is gas pollution. Currently, the wind direction is north and will shift to northeast as the day progresses tomorrow. Then air pollution could occur in Grindavík and Reykjanesbær. At the moment the wind direction is favorable, a strong northerly wind out to sea.”

He says no tourists are currently allowed into Grindavík. Only fish processing companies are operating there. Those staying in Grindavík are not necessarily their employees.

“These are the Grindavík residents who have been most determined. There were 56 houses last night, but now there are 20 houses.”

Hopeful that Njarðvík pipeline will hold

Although the situation is excellent, Lúðvíksson says it is clear that a lot of damage was caused by the eruption. In addition to the parking lot at the Blue Lagoon, access to the lagoon’s operations and Hotel Northern Lights Inn has been closed. Then the Svartsengi’s pipeline was broken.

Njarðvík pipeline has, however, held, and it supplies, among other things, hot water to Grindavík and Reykjanesbær.

"The Njarðvík pipeline has held and people are hopeful that it will continue to do so."