In the afternoon on November 10, 2023, a powerful swarm of earthquakes around what’s known as the Sundhnúkur crater row, a volcanic field just north of Grindavik, created enough pressure to trigger a magma intrusion under the town.
A magma intrusion is a horizontal or slanted tunnel in the crust where magma pushes its way through. When it forms close to the surface, it can cause cracks to open and the ground to shift or sink; exactly what happened in the Víkurbraut Street in Grindavik.
The intense pressure from the magma fractured the crust in many places, causing fissures and ground collapse and cracks to appear.
Deep beneath their feet, molten rock was forcing its way through solid ground at an incredible rate.
The magma flow was 20 times greater than Iceland’s largest river — imagine filling 100 swimming pools with molten rock every second.
This massive intrusion created a dyke extending from the nearby crater row through Grindavik and beyond, reaching depths of 5 to 10 kilometers below the surface.
As evening approached and the situation became clear, officials made the difficult decision to evacuate the town. By 11 PM on November 10, the evacuation order was issued. The weather was calm, and the community responded with remarkable order and dignity.
The evacuation began at midnight and took several hours. Some residents had time to pack essentials, while others couldn’t return for their belongings.
By dawn, Grindavík was silent and empty: 3,800 people scattered across Iceland overnight, their daily lives suddenly interrupted by forces beyond human control.
Schools closed, businesses shuttered, and a thriving fishing community became a ghost town in a single night. Some residents have since returned, but the town’s population remains a fraction of what it once was, living under the constant shadow of geological uncertainty.
This location marks where the immense forces that build our planet changed thousands of lives in a single day.
Begin at the defensive barriers and be in awe. Walk the streets where dark lava streams meet residential fences. Eat fresh fish by the harbor. Meet resilient locals continuing their businesses.
