A tsunami has hit the villages of Nuugaatsiaq, Uummannaq and Illorsuit in Greenland on June 17, 2017.
The tsunami, that swept houses into the sea, was most probably produced by a massive rockfall falling into the sea.
People in the surrounding area have been advised to seek higher ground and emergency services are on the way.
There’s about 100km between Nuugaatsiaq (hardest hit) and Uummannaq (furthest away that has been affected).
Police is asking the press to inform residents the following: If in fjord systems around Uummannaq, seek up the terrain and stay away from the shoreline.
The serious message is sent by the senior prosecutor Liselotte Bøhm, Greenland Police, and relies on the report received at 22.15 on heavy flooding in the village Nuugaatsiaq. Large waves also hit Uummannaq and Illorsuit, police said.
According first reports, people have felt earthquakes in the area before a tsunami has torn off houses in the settlements of Illorsuit and Nuugaatsiaq. This information is not confirmed by the police, but there was allegedly major damage.
Earthquake or landslide
Officials aren’t 100% sure that the tsunami was triggered by a landslide. But the image below doesn’t lie and shows the seismic signature of the landslide in Greenland:
There are a series of pops prior to the landslide that is looking like volcanic brittle earthquakes. Obviously it is not volcanic in origin, instead it is rock breaking prior to a part of a mountainside falling down.
The big signal is the landslide running off. There was no large earthquake, it was instead the seismic signal of the landslide that looked like an earthquake.
Have a prayer for these tsunami victims in Greenland.
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