Work on volcanic risk assessment needs to be accelerated

Hazard assessment forms the basis for appropriate response

Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and extensive upheavals have in recent years taken place in the immediate surroundings of Hafnarfjörður. The minds of Hafnarfjörður´s Municipal staff and the towns residents are with our friends in Grindavík and the entire Reykjanes peninsula. Natural disasters in such close proximity to the capital area can also contribute to distress for residents in Hafnarfjörður and other parts of the capital. It should be noted that in the unlikely event that housing or areas within the capital area had to be evacuated due to a civil protection situation, there is an evacuation plan in place for the entire area that can be activated.

Evacuation plan for the capital area (Icelandic)

Article by Mayor Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir

Rósa, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður, wrote an article for Morgunblaðið this past week, Thursday the 8th of February, where she reviews the work that is taking place on earthquake and volcanic risk assessments for the capital area. Risk assessment forms the basis for further action and according to the response to her article, it is hoped for that this work will be even further accelerated.

Work on volcanic risk assessment needs to be accelerated

Daily the media publish the opinions of various experts, professionals and unlearned, on possible scenarios of earthquake, volcanic activity and lava flow in Reykjanes and the capital area. Various personal opinions need to be expressed about mitigation measures and how the settlement should develop in the years to come. But undeniably, some of the comments promote people’s fears and uncertainty about the future. However, planning in recent decades, there has been less attention paid to comments, demands or suggestions from public agencies or others to this effect than other issues such as water conservation and antiquities conservation, which has often slowed down building plans. It should not be forgotten that even friends of the lava have been able to delay the planning and construction process for years without any actual volcanic activity or lava flow. In some cases, however, buildings have been relocated, e.g. during the construction of Árbæjarlaug in Reykjavík when a crack was found in the proposed building plot and more widespread cracks have been taken into account when planning new neighbourhoods.

Risk assessment forms the basis for further responses

The Icelandic Meteorological Office is currently preparing an earthquake risk assessment for the capital area in collaboration with the civil protection and representatives of the municipalities. It is expected to be ready in the spring. The same parties are preparing a volcanic risk assessment for the capital area, which is expected to be completed by the end of next year. Now that the volcanic crisis has emerged with the volcanic eruption in Reykjanes, it is important that this risk assessment is further accelerated. Although most experts who have commented on these issues in recent weeks agree that volcanic eruptions will not occur within urban areas in the capital area, certain parts of the area may be in risk of possible lava flow. It is important for the municipalities in the area to get the full picture as soon as possible with the scenarios that can arise from joint assessments and conclusions from public bodies such as experts from the Icelandic Meteorological Office and civil protection. First, you can map out the situation and design mitigation measures if warranted. No one knows if or when such action will need to be taken, but it is reassuring that the plan exists. Once the volcanic risk assessment has seen the light of day, it is clear that regional planning for the capital area needs to be adapted. It will then need to be reviewed for future construction and planned development in the area.

Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður