Due to the volcanic eruptions that threatened population centers, new rescue plans have started to be made in Iceland, says Finn Mervi Luoma.
Sunday’s volcanic eruption in the Icelandic fishing village of Grindavík caused a Finn who lived 30 kilometers away Mervi Luoman to consider the soil of their own residential area.
Luoma lives near Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, in the town of Hafnarfjörður, which is a 15-minute drive from the center of the capital.
– Our house is located on a 6,000-year-old lava field. I was just talking to a neighbor that I’m excited to see how this continues.
New rescue plans are now being made
According to Luoma, houses and cities in Iceland are not designed or built specifically to be protected from volcanoes.
– This is a completely volcanic island. Houses are just built where they are built.
Luoma says that the latest volcanic eruption will not directly affect their lives.
But little by little, people around have started to worry more, as volcanic eruptions have often occurred closer to population centers in recent years.
– When hundreds, even thousands of years have passed without volcanic eruptions, there has been no need to think about them and no preparations have been made for them.
But now, according to Luoma, people have started making plans about what to do if the eruption areas expand to threaten population centers.
Among other things, a new rescue plan is being prepared for Luoma’s residential area and the entire capital region, Luoma says.
– Of course, now that the third volcanic eruption has occurred in six months, it has crossed my mind how this affects our lives.
Luoma believes that taxes will rise
Luoma has lived in Iceland for seven and a half years. He believes that volcanic eruptions will affect the lives of Icelanders, at least in terms of taxes.
– Probably taxes and certain payments will rise. It has already been talked about.
In addition, there may be an impact on tourism. Created by a French man Julien Achache is a travel agency in Iceland, whose customers include many French and Americans. The volcanic eruptions have already affected the man’s work a lot. There were a lot of cancellations already after the volcanic eruption in December.
– Yes, it had an effect and still has an effect now. It is quieter than, say, a year ago, says Luoma.
However, moving away from Iceland has not occurred to Luoma or her husband.
– No. As long as volcanic eruptions don’t threaten us directly, here we are.