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Thursday, 29 October 2026 Icelandic stories. Global audience.
Volcanoes & Nature

Police to send rope rescue team into Grindavík fissure after fatal accident

Authorities in the Icelandic fishing town are preparing a specialised search to recover the remains of a worker who died in January 2024. The operation follows a thorough risk assessment and aims to start in November.

A lit candle in a frosted glass holder
File photo.

Police in the Southern Peninsula district of Iceland have decided to send rope rescue specialists into a fissure in Grindavík to search for the remains of a worker who fell there earlier this year, according to a report by mbl.is.

The operation’s stated goal is to try to recover the remains of the worker who died after falling into the fissure while working in Hópahverfi in Grindavík in January 2024. Planners are still preparing the search. It has not yet begun.

Officials decided to proceed with the specialised search and rescue mission after carrying out a risk assessment of the site. Margrét Kristín Pálsdóttir, a spokesperson for the operation, told Vísir, “We aim to begin the search in November.” (translated from Icelandic)

Grindavík is a fishing town on the Reykjanes peninsula and was evacuated in November 2023 due to volcanic activity. The town is known for its harbour and proximity to the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.

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