North·Video

Western Greenland could see more flooding like Saturday's tsunami

A 300-metre wide, 1,000-meter high rock slid into the sea causing the initial wave and more of the rock face is unstable.

Three villages remain at risk of flooding and have been evacuated

A still from a video shot on the shoreline of Nuugaatsiaq after tsunami waves struck the coast of Greenland on Saturday. Police say the waves were caused by a large rock falling into the sea. (Olina Angie K Nielsen/Facebook)

It's possible the flooding is not over in western Greenland, after a tsunami landed in on the island's coast on Saturday night.

A 300-metre wide, 1,000-meter high rock slid into the sea, close to the village of Nuugaatsiaq, causing the initial wave, according to Greenland police. 
Around 200 residents have been evacuated from Nuugaatsiaq and two neighbouring villages.

Now, more of the rock face along the fjord is reportedly unstable and could still collapse.

Whether the landslide was caused by an earthquake has not yet been determined. 

"We don't know for sure whether this was caused by a landslide or an earthquake or a combination of those two," said Tobias Berg, who is a senior prosecutor with the Greenland police.

Fly over a partially-collapsed Greenland mountain, post tsunami (Submitted by Kunuunnguaq Petersen Geisler)

7 years ago
Duration 1:35
A 300-metre wide, 1,000-metre high rock slid into the sea off this mountain, near the Greenland village of Nuugaatsiaq, on Saturday night, causing a tsunami. This video, taken on Sunday, shows the aftermath. (Video courtesy of Kunuunnguaq Petersen Geisler)

Police evacuated around 200 residents from three villages by helicoptering them out to two ships, which took them to the larger communities of Uummannaq and Aasiaat.

Nuugaatsiaq took the brunt of the flooding, whereas Illorsuit and Niaqornat have been evacuated as a precaution.

"At the moment we still consider there is a risk of more flooding," Berg said.

Homes washed away, 2 medevaced

Some houses washed out into the water in Nuugaatsiaq, Berg said.

Two people were medevaced to Nuuk, while more are hospitalized in Uummannaq. Berg did not know their condition.

The Joint Arctic Command transports clothing donations to the evacuees. (Submitted by ARKTISK KOMMANDO - Joint Arctic Command)
He confirmed that four people are missing and said divers cannot search for them yet because of the continued flood risk.

Nearby villages who fled to higher ground have been told they can return to their homes.

"We ask the people in the villages in the area to listen for the alarm in the village and also closely watch the sea and watch out if the level of the water begins to rise, but, for now, we are not evacuating."

On the afternoon of June 19, the Joint Arctic Command flew a Hercules plane to deliver donated clothing to the evacuees. The Prime Minister of Greenland Kim Kielsen was also on board the plane. 

Canadians who want to donate can contact the Bank of Greenland.

With files from Salome Avva