Latest news with #Innaarsuit
News.com.au
12-07-2025
- Climate
- News.com.au
Greenland village wakes up to titanic iceberg dangerously close to homes
A small settlement in Greenland is holding its collective breath as an iceberg of titanic proportions drifts dangerously close to shore — and residents' homes. For days now, the freakishly large frozen mass has been on a collision course with tiny Innaarsuit — leading local authorities to issue a warning to residents. If the fearsome frosty float were to make contact with the shore or break apart, potential damage and injuries could follow, officials said. Though it's unlikely any broken ice chunks would fall directly on land, the impact of pieces of plummeting permafrost would create massive waves, which could sweep ashore. These swells could cause immediate structural harm, or at their worst, wash away low-lying or already compromised structures entirely. Innaarsuit is located on a small island in western Greenland, and the local economy revolves primarily around fishing. Government representatives cautioned against getting too close to the iceberg when sailing to and from the island, or even while going about daily activities on dry land. 'Emergency services encourage families not to go in a group towards the store, while at the same time asking people with walking difficulties to be extra careful when walking towards the store,' they said. Typically, large icebergs move within a few days, but according to local worker Dennis Lehtonen, it's been stationary for around a week, which is the main source of worry. 'Because of this, the [local municipality] issued the official warning for the iceberg and we are temporarily closing the local fish factory where I work as well as the small shop,' Lehtonen said. Despite the towering magnitude of the frosty float, not all of the town's residents are bothered by its presence. 'I have asked the locals about their feelings for the iceberg. Some say they're worried, but there are plenty of people who are sort of excited (like me),' he added. This isn't the first time a hulking iceberg has sailed on into the Innaarsuit harbour. Back in 2018, a similarly sized mass floated into the same harbour, and at 11 tons, it was so large it could be seen from space. At the time, residents near areas that could be impacted were evacuated to higher ground. The 2018 iceberg eventually floated away — after being assailed by days of consistently strong winds.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Greenland coastal village bracing for potential collision with giant iceberg
An enormous iceberg is drifting dangerously close to the shore in northwestern Greenland The skyscraper-sized piece of ice is on a potential collision course with the harbour of Innaarsuit, a village in Greenland's Avannaata Municipality. It originally sidled up to the village last week, but seemed to have drifted away before reappearing on Monday and remaining precariously close. Local authorities have issued warnings to residents as the iceberg sits near the Royal Greenland fish factory and the local grocery store. People have been advised to take care when in that part of the community. Emergency services are encouraging families not to go in a group towards the store. They are also asking people who have difficulty walking to be extra careful. The fish-processing factory has been temporarily closed. Meanwhile, locals have been advised to be careful when sailing to or from the settlement. While some residents are concerned, others are reportedly excited by the rare and dramatic sight. There are few options for dealing with threatening icebergs. One of the main concerns with a large iceberg is that it will 'calve' (split), with pieces falling into the ocean, resulting in large waves that will swamp nearby coastal communities. As a result, authorities monitor icebergs for cracks and holes that may result in calving. The first line of defence is for nearby residents to evacuate. That occurred in 2018, when this same Greenlandic community was similarly threatened. Other options have been considered but remain experimental. They involve explosives to break up the iceberg and towing. These tactics present monumental challenges. The U.S. Coast Guard says aside from difficulty involved in successfully getting onto an iceberg, demolition would require 'a 1,000 lb. charge of conventional explosives…to break up approximately 70,000 cubic ft of ice (an iceberg weighing 1,960 tons).' Further, a hundred of these charges would be needed to destroy an average iceberg, (presumably more for the mammoth berg threatening Innaarsuit at this time). Melting a medium-sized iceberg of 100,000 tons would theoretically require heat from the 'combustion of over a quarter of a million gallons of gasoline' says the Coast Guard. 'Such methods are, of course, economically, as well as practically unsound.' Icebergs drift south after calving from Arctic and western Greenland glaciers. They are regular sights in spring-early summer. Transported by Atlantic Ocean currents to waters off Greenland, Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as Cape Breton Island, they eventually melt in somewhat warmer southern climes. An iceberg that drifts south rarely lasts more than a year. Icebergs flow at speeds of up to seven kilometres a year, first floating in Arctic bays before passing into the Labrador Current and south into what is known as 'Iceberg Alley.' Every year about 40,000 medium to large icebergs calve from glaciers but only 400-800 make it as far south as St. John's. However, those numbers can vary greatly from year to year based on temperature, ocean current, wind direction and sea/pack ice. Often huge, ninety per cent of an iceberg sits below the ocean surface. Black iceberg spotted off Labrador could be result of an asteroid strike Unusual iceberg with giant hole attracts onlookers to Eastern Newfoundland cove Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Greenland coastal village bracing for potential collision with giant iceberg
An enormous iceberg is drifting dangerously close to the shore in northwestern Greenland The skyscraper-sized piece of ice is on a potential collision course with the harbour of Innaarsuit, a village in Greenland's Avannaata Municipality. It originally sidled up to the village last week, but seemed to have drifted away before reappearing on Monday and remaining precariously close. Local authorities have issued warnings to residents as the iceberg sits near the Royal Greenland fish factory and the local grocery store. People have been advised to take care when in that part of the community. Emergency services are encouraging families not to go in a group towards the store. They are also asking people who have difficulty walking to be extra careful. The fish-processing factory has been temporarily closed. Meanwhile, locals have been advised to be careful when sailing to or from the settlement. While some residents are concerned, others are reportedly excited by the rare and dramatic sight. There are few options for dealing with threatening icebergs. One of the main concerns with a large iceberg is that it will 'calve' (split), with pieces falling into the ocean, resulting in large waves that will swamp nearby coastal communities. As a result, authorities monitor icebergs for cracks and holes that may result in calving. The first line of defence is for nearby residents to evacuate. That occurred in 2018, when this same Greenlandic community was similarly threatened. Other options have been considered but remain experimental. They involve explosives to break up the iceberg and towing. These tactics present monumental challenges. The U.S. Coast Guard says aside from difficulty involved in successfully getting onto an iceberg, demolition would require 'a 1,000 lb. charge of conventional explosives…to break up approximately 70,000 cubic ft of ice (an iceberg weighing 1,960 tons).' Further, a hundred of these charges would be needed to destroy an average iceberg, (presumably more for the mammoth berg threatening Innaarsuit at this time). Melting a medium-sized iceberg of 100,000 tons would theoretically require heat from the 'combustion of over a quarter of a million gallons of gasoline' says the Coast Guard. 'Such methods are, of course, economically, as well as practically unsound.' Icebergs drift south after calving from Arctic and western Greenland glaciers. They are regular sights in spring-early summer. Transported by Atlantic Ocean currents to waters off Greenland, Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as Cape Breton Island, they eventually melt in somewhat warmer southern climes. An iceberg that drifts south rarely lasts more than a year. Icebergs flow at speeds of up to seven kilometres a year, first floating in Arctic bays before passing into the Labrador Current and south into what is known as 'Iceberg Alley.' Every year about 40,000 medium to large icebergs calve from glaciers but only 400-800 make it as far south as St. John's. However, those numbers can vary greatly from year to year based on temperature, ocean current, wind direction and sea/pack ice. Often huge, ninety per cent of an iceberg sits below the ocean surface. Black iceberg spotted off Labrador could be result of an asteroid strike Unusual iceberg with giant hole attracts onlookers to Eastern Newfoundland cove Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
National Post
11-07-2025
- Science
- National Post
Greenland coastal village bracing for potential collision with giant iceberg
An enormous iceberg is drifting dangerously close to the shore in northwestern Greenland. The skyscraper-sized piece of ice is on a potential collision course with the harbour of Innaarsuit, a village in Greenland's Avannaata Municipality. Article content It originally sidled up to the village last week, but seemed to have drifted away before reappearing on Monday and remaining precariously close. Article content Local authorities have issued warnings to residents as the iceberg sits near the Royal Greenland fish factory and the local grocery store. People have been advised to take care when in that part of the community. Article content Emergency services are encouraging families not to go in a group towards the store. They are also asking people who have difficulty walking to be extra careful. The fish-processing factory has been temporarily closed. Article content What can be done with large icebergs that threaten coastal communities? Article content Article content There are few options for dealing with threatening icebergs. One of the main concerns with a large iceberg is that it will 'calve' (split), with pieces falling into the ocean, resulting in large waves that will swamp nearby coastal communities. Article content The first line of defence is for nearby residents to evacuate. That occurred in 2018, when this same Greenlandic community was similarly threatened. Article content Other options have been considered but remain experimental. They involve explosives to break up the iceberg and towing. These tactics present monumental challenges. Article content The U.S. Coast Guard says aside from difficulty involved in successfully getting onto an iceberg, demolition would require 'a 1,000 lb. charge of conventional explosives…to break up approximately 70,000 cubic ft of ice (an iceberg weighing 1,960 tons).' Further, a hundred of these charges would be needed to destroy an average iceberg, (presumably more for the mammoth berg threatening Innaarsuit at this time). Article content Article content Melting a medium-sized iceberg of 100,000 tons would theoretically require heat from the 'combustion of over a quarter of a million gallons of gasoline' says the Coast Guard. Article content Article content Icebergs drift south after calving from Arctic and western Greenland glaciers. They are regular sights in spring-early summer. Transported by Atlantic Ocean currents to waters off Greenland, Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as Cape Breton Island, they eventually melt in somewhat warmer southern climes. An iceberg that drifts south rarely lasts more than a year. Article content Icebergs flow at speeds of up to seven kilometres a year, first floating in Arctic bays before passing into the Labrador Current and south into what is known as ' Iceberg Alley.' Article content Article content Every year about 40,000 medium to large icebergs calve from glaciers but only 400-800 make it as far south as St. John's. However, those numbers can vary greatly from year to year based on temperature, ocean current, wind direction and sea/pack ice. Article content
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Jaw-dropping pictures show massive iceberg drifting towards houses on Greenland's coast
Incredible new images have shown a huge iceberg drifting dangerously close to houses on the coast of Greenland. The frozen block has been edging closer to a harbor in Innaarsuit, where local authorities have issued warnings to the public. It is now near the Royal Greenland fish factory and the local food store, where people are being advised to take care when visiting. The Avannaata Municipality said: 'Emergency services encourage families not to go in a group towards the store, while at the same time asking people with walking difficulties to be extra careful when walking towards the store.' The municipality added: 'The emergency services also want you to be careful when sailing both to and from the settlement. The emergency services are aware of the iceberg and are prepared if it breaks apart.' Dennis Lehtonen, who works locally, said the iceberg originally was spotted in the village approximately a week ago, but appeared to move on. He said: 'This Monday, however, the iceberg would return to Innaarsuit and since then it has been (almost) in the same location. 'Because of this, the Avannaata Kommunia (North Greenland municipality) issued the official warning for the iceberg and we are temporarily closing the local fish factory where I work as well as the small shop. 'I have asked the locals about their feelings for the iceberg. Some say they're worried, but there are plenty of people who are sort of excited (like me).' Reaction: One local has said some people are worried about the iceberg, but there are plenty of people who are 'sort of excited'
