Volcanic lava in Grindavik destroyed dozens of residential buildings

(Patria) - Volcanic eruption and lava that flooded parts of southwestern Iceland have destroyed dozens of buildings in the small fishing town of Grindavik, said the head of the local insurance company.

The director of Iceland's natural disaster insurance company, Hulda Ragnheiður Árnadóttir, said that more than 400 compensation claims have been received so far from the heavily damaged town.

Of that number, experts have declared total damage to 53 buildings. Among them are 30 residential buildings. More than 260 claims are yet to be reviewed.

The town of about 3,700 inhabitants began its evacuation in November after a series of earthquakes, which were later correctly believed to herald a strong eruption.

The volcano on the peninsula erupted in the early morning hours of Sunday, January 14, and shortly after the evacuation of the population, numerous cracks appeared near the town, through which a large amount of lava began to penetrate, and then began to flow into the town of Grindavik.

For the first time in almost half a century, houses in Iceland have been destroyed by large amounts of lava.

It is estimated that about 6.5 million cubic meters of magma have accumulated under the Svartsengi area, which also includes Grindavik.

Experts fear another major eruption on the island in the North Atlantic.

Several hundred residents of Grindavik, facing an uncertain future, were allowed yesterday to return to their homes for a few hours to collect remaining property that was not destroyed.

A similar action is planned for today.