• SuddenDownpour@sh.itjust.works
    0·
    14 days ago

    To anyone acquantinced with Iceland: What kind of logistical issues does this actually provoke? What measures do you typically (or exceptionally) take to make sure that no location runs unsupplied for too long?

    • Monument@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
      0·
      14 days ago

      I’ve been there on tour once, and I just looked at an online map to make sure I didn’t misremember. I also follow a guy on YouTube that talks about geology and has been focused on Iceland lately, so I think that makes me a complete expert.

      Joking aside, the road to Grindavik is sort of out of the way, but it is the connector road between the south coast and the airport, so it’s like a 45 minute diversion to get to the airport from the south coast (and vice versa). And like an hour+ diversion if you’re going from the south coast to the Blue Lagoon/the geothermal power/hot water plant that provides power and heat to the airport and (I think) most of Reykjavik.
      Unfortunately the power plant/Blue Lagoon is very close to the fissure, and it’s possible a future larger lava flow could damage them. (It is expected more fissures/flows will occur, but the location and size are unknown.) I’m sure both the civil engineering and tourism folks are working on spinning up alternative sites.

      Grindavik, for what it’s worth, keeps bouncing between being evacuated and residents griping so much they get let back in. The Icelandic government has an offer on the table to purchase people’s homes in the town, so they move out. I think the plan is probably to abandon the town, since it’s possible this eruptive period could last hundreds of years. (Or not! We have no idea, really, just past data and informed guesses.)

      • SuddenDownpour@sh.itjust.works
        0·
        14 days ago

        I’ll have you know, I have pretty high standards to consider someone an expert.

        I’ve been there on tour once, and I just looked at an online map to make sure I didn’t misremember. I also follow a guy on YouTube that talks about geology and has been focused on Iceland lately, so I think that makes me a complete expert.

        Oh, no! You’re meeting all of them!

      • scutiger@lemmy.world
        0·
        14 days ago

        The ring road around the country is about 1300km, so it’s clearly a pretty big hassle, but not a complete disaster, unless the entire area around the main intersection is blocked.

        • Dultas@lemmy.world
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          14 days ago

          I don’t think you have travel the whole ring road. But I believe both roads in and out areclosed.

    • hairynipple@lemm.ee
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      14 days ago

      I’m not the kind of person you wanted a response from since I know absolutely nothing, but I would imagine being an island, boats play a big role in keeping supply lines running.

    • OhmsLawn@lemmy.world
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      14 days ago

      Not Icelandic, but I’ve been following the situation closely.

      This is an evolving issue. Grindavik, the town on the far side of this has been severely damaged by earthquakes and is currently surrounded by a berm that’s (mostly) holding the lava flow back. The Svartsengi power plant is likewise protected by a berm and has had the pipes supplying hot water to Reikiavik damaged and repaired.

      Geologist Sean Willsey has been providing outstanding coverage on the subject.

    • muix@lemmy.sdf.org
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      14 days ago

      Basically everyone gets evacuated from the affected area and are staying with friends and family in Reykjavík. Grindavík is a very small town compared to the rest of the world. The government has offered to buy properties from the ones who cannot return, since the erruptions have been going for a few years in that area and there’s no sign of stopping.

      To answer your question for the rescuers, researchers, and workers left in the area, once the eruption starts it’s quite easy to predict the flow. Luckily there are a few other roads without the risk of lava flow, mainly due to lava diverting barricades. In case of emergencies they use helicopters.

      Other parts in eruption risk zones would be similar, since it’s just not worth it for people to stay in those areas and most people can stay with family. And repairs to the road are usually pretty quick when the eruption dies down.

  • TIN@feddit.ukEnglish
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    14 days ago

    I like the way there’s a police car there, in case people were thinking they might just go for it anyway

  • suction@lemmy.world
    0·
    14 days ago

    Looks like a challenge for Cybertruck owners, who would be gullible enough to think their “futuristic” truck probably could drive across that.

  • voldage@lemmy.world
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    14 days ago

    “When I was your age I had to walk to school through 5kms of lava, just to avoid fighting with bears again, it was actually faster if I ran” just kidding I know we don’t have money to raise children anymore

  • beebarfbadger@lemmy.world
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    14 days ago

    Sorry, but no compassion from me: shouldn’t have built the road right under a lava stream. Stupid decision, really.

  • timmymac@lemmy.world
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    14 days ago

    I want to go to Iceland because I hear it’s awesome plus I like the added danger it might blow up at any moment.

    • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
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      14 days ago

      It’s also fun how massively expensive it is. And their currency makes it feel even more expensive. Want a loaf of bread that’ll be 23,000 krona.

      But it’s got hot spring and a surprisingly vibrant nightlife so it’s all worth it.

        • boonhet@lemm.ee
          0·
          14 days ago

          If it is, I’m going to move to Iceland to grow wheat and bake and sell bread. This software engineering thing suddenly doesn’t seem all that lucrative.

      • recklessengagement@lemmy.world
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        13 days ago

        Wasn’t that expensive when I went last year, actually felt relatively affordable. Actually, all of Europe felt affordable compared to food prices in the US…

    • grrgyle@slrpnk.net
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      15 days ago

      A bunch of my co-workers are situated in Iceland and, you joke, but they have had to leave the office twice because of risk of lava in about a year.

      Which seems like a startlingly high number

      • JJROKCZ@lemmy.world
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        14 days ago

        Well when you live on a volcanic island… it shouldn’t be that surprising that it occasionally does volcano things

      • Transporter Room 3@startrek.website
        0·
        14 days ago

        “Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice”

        What do you even do if your office gets burned and melted by a volcano? Do you take a week “off” and all meet up in a new space? Do you look for a new job? Like damn, if the warehouse I work in burned down I’d be completely out of a job unless I can move 1,000 miles away.

          • corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca
            0·
            14 days ago

            America; jobs will relo to the next warehouse and since #america, everyone will have to report there for even office work or be laid-off.

            Tell me if I didn’t make it cruel enough to be America yet.

            • JJROKCZ@lemmy.world
              0·
              14 days ago

              You forgot to mention no relocation assistance and no adjustment to wages to make up for the hurdles and potential cost of living increase in the new location.

      • verity_kindle@sh.itjust.works
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        14 days ago

        I like how calmly Icelandic civilians and government workers seem to be coping. I know there are only about 300,000 of them, but they get repeated emergency advisories out faster than one warning would get out in, for example, Oklahoma USA. Anybody who wants to be near Hot Flowy Death right now WANTS to be near it. Source: every time the good citizens of a county in Oklahoma are warned about a (water mixed with trees) flood, there’s always THAT GUY who says the county didn’t do enough to warn HIM and that’s why XYZ happened.