Foreign experts assess risks of recovering remains in Grindavík

Three foreign experts have been called in to assess conditions in Grindavík, a town in Iceland, where the remains of Lúðvík Pétursson lie, mbl.is reports. The assessment will form part of a risk evaluation for a possible operation to recover them.

Lúðvík died in an accident during earthworks in the Hópahverfi neighbourhood of Grindavík in January 2024.

Margrét Kristín Pálsdóttir, police commissioner for the Suðurnes region, said the experts were brought in to follow up on a memorandum prepared by engineering firm COWI for the Grindavík committee and sent to the Ministry of Justice.

COWI concluded that the most feasible option would be to descend to the remains rather than disturb the ground. The firm also recommended that the police commissioner conduct a risk assessment before deciding whether to proceed.

“I have gathered information and consulted experts to assess whether it is possible to move on to this phase. For that purpose, I decided to bring in three foreign experts, including specialists in rubble rescue, who will come and provide an impartial assessment of this first phase of the project and give the police commissioner their opinion,” Margrét Kristín said.

The experts are from Finland, Poland and the Czech Republic. Margrét said Iceland’s civil protection network was used to identify them.

She said seeking expertise abroad would help ensure an impartial assessment, while Icelandic experts were also assisting with the case.

“This is not an easy decision, and the work must be carried out as well as possible for everyone involved. No one wants to take more risk than necessary, despite the very important interests at stake,” she said.

A decision on whether to proceed is expected after the summer. Lúðvík’s family has strongly urged that his remains be recovered so the matter can be brought to a close.