Most respondents see a long-term future for residents in Grindavik

About 60% of respondents consider it realistic for people to live in Grindavik over the long term under current conditions, while nearly 22% say it is unrealistic, according to a survey reported by mbl.is.

The Prime Minister’s Office commissioned Maskína to survey former residents about their circumstances and views on the town’s future. Conducted in the first half of October, it was sent to people who lived in Grindavik when it was evacuated in November 2023. Nearly 1,200 people aged 18 and over responded, a participation rate of just over 42%.

Nearly 48% said they had a high level of trust in the findings of a revised risk assessment, while almost 36% had neither high nor low trust and just over 16% had little trust. Nearly 44% said the revised assessment had made them more positive about living in Grindavik; just under 10% said it had made them more negative.

Just over 15% of respondents currently live in Grindavik, and nearly 29% said they were likely to live there in a year. Safety and housing conditions had the greatest influence on people’s views about living in the town. Nearly 60% said they had adapted well to the community where they now live, while just over 14% said they had adapted poorly.

Nearly half said their mental health was worse than before the evacuation, and almost 42% said their physical health was worse. Nearly 19% reported better mental health and almost 18% better physical health.

The government said in a statement that targeted steps are being taken to rebuild Grindavik and that residents’ views on key issues are important.