Vestmanna municipality clears abandoned industrial waste from nature reserve

The municipality of Vestmanna has begun removing decades-old industrial debris from a protected area near Vatn after blocking public access to a popular hiking trail, local broadcaster KVF reports.

Mayor Sára Jógvansdóttir confirmed that municipal leaders and staff visited the site Monday to assess the cleanup effort, which targets waste left behind by a defunct factory operating 30 to 40 years ago. She stated that those responsible for the pollution must cover the costs of remediation.

The area, part of a nature reserve, contains roughly 12 kilometers of tunnels and shafts dug by hand in the 1940s during hydroelectric construction. Authorities warn that some tunnels may pose risks to hikers if left unsecured.