Watch Video: Massive melting iceberg threatens Greenland village
A 100-metre massive iceberg is almost close to a Greenland community whose residents fear a devastating tsunami if the ice mountain breaks apart in warming weather.
People who live close to the 11-million-ton berg were evacuated to higher ground in the remote village of Innaarsuit on Friday. A rescue helicopter has been stationed nearby.
“We fear the iceberg could calve” — break up — and “send a flood toward the village,” Greenland police spokesman Lina Davidsen told Danish news agency Ritzau.
A video posted on Twitter shows a chunk of ice breaking off the massive block and plunging into the sea, sending large waves curling around the shore.
Also Read: Watch Video: Woman arrested in Saudi Arabia for hugging singer Majid al-Mohandis during concert
Crazy massive iceberg on drift leaving behind a tsunami in harbor #Innaarsuit more here! https://t.co/8yj0oSch9P pic.twitter.com/TXsY3E6nob
— Sven Groeneveld (@sventennis) July 13, 2018
There are concerns that a flood could disable the community’s power plant, which is on the coast.
Locals are hoping that a strong wind develops which would encourage the mountain of ice to drift away. However, heavy rain could encourage the iceberg to collapse, making the situation worse.
Large icebergs have drifted close to the community before, but villagers say this is the biggest they've ever seen.
The number of giant icebergs spotted along the Greenland coast has increased in the last few decades as climate change has taken hold. More icebergs are expected over the coming years, increasing the risk of coastal flooding.
Also Read: Jaguar at Audubon Zoo, kills four alpacas, an emu and a fox after escaping Zoo enclosure
First published: 15 July 2018, 17:06 IST