Scot forced to evacuate Icelandic town Grindavik after 'intense' earthquake

A Scot has told of the “scary” moment she struggled to stand up after an earthquake forced the evacuation of the Icelandic town she was staying in.

Caitlin McLean, from Glasgow, was visiting boyfriend Gisli Gunnarsson in Grindavik when they were forced to flee his home at midnight on Friday.

Police evacuated the town after seismic activity in the area moved south towards the town, with a corridor of magma, or semi-molten rock, now thought to be extending under the community.

The couple, now safely with with Mr Gunnarsson’s mother in Reykjavik, told STV News of the moment it was “hard to stand up” due to the impact of the quake.

Caitlin, 34, told STV News: “It was pretty scary. On the Friday when they became very strong, it was hard to even stand up when they were hitting. That was quite scary for me.

“I would have to grab on to something or I would be knocked off my feet.

“We were in bed, going to sleep when the evacuation started. It was quite intense.

“Its the threat of the eruption that is scaring the town.

“For Gísli, the situation is bittersweet. First and foremost the thought that he might never see his home town again is very difficult.

“The community coming together has blown me away. The whole of Iceland is coming together to help the residents of Grindavik.”

The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, one of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions, said on Thursday it would close until November 16 due to the risk of an eruption.

Music composer Gisli, who was born and raised in Grindavik, described the situation as “grim”.

He said: “For the past few weeks we’ve been having some earthquakes, and on Friday, at around 4pm, it got very intense. It was constant big earthquakes, and it wouldn’t stop.

“At midnight we were told we had to evacuate as the pocket of magma had became very big and was all the way under the town, so there was a good possibility the volcano would erupt under the town.

“When I left it didn’t even cross my mind that it might be the last time I see my home town, so that’s tough.”