Earlier this month, a towering iceberg dangerously close to shore threatened Innaarsuit, a small fishing village in Northwest Greenland. The “skyscraper-sized” iceberg prompted authorities to evacuate some of Innaarsuit’s residents to higher ground, according to SkyNews.
Located about 617km north of Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, and 46km north of Upernavik, Innaarsuit is a remote island community of just 169 people, accessible only by boat or helicopter. The village relies heavily on its harbor for fishing, but the iceberg’s proximity endangered homes, the Royal Greenland fish factory, and even the local grocery store. If it calved, or broke apart, the resulting tsunami could have easily swamped the houses on the rocky shore.
You can watch a recent video on it:
This wasn’t the first time Innaarsuit has faced such a crisis. In July 2018, a massive 11-million-ton iceberg, 200m wide and 100m tall, grounded near the village. Again, residents near the shore were evacuated, and the village’s power plant and fuel tanks were at risk. Fortunately, the iceberg drifted north after a few days, averting disaster.
Other incidents
Greenland has experienced several tsunami incidents in recent years. On June 17, 2017, a massive landslide in Karrat Fiord triggered a wave that struck Nuugaatsiaq (about 92km north-northwest of Innaarsuit), killing four people and injuring 11, washing several houses into the sea, and flinging boats 50m up the hillside. The landslide, likely caused by melting permafrost due to rising temperatures, highlighted the growing risks to coastal communities.
Another dramatic incident occurred in June 2018 near Ilulissat, known as Greenland’s Iceberg Capital, thanks to its UNESCO-listed Icefiord. A 6.4km-long iceberg calved and sent huge waves crashing toward the shore, again forcing residents to flee to higher ground.
Too close for comfort: the massive iceberg next to Innaarsuit’s houses. Photo: X
A time-lapse video of the 2018 Innaarsuit iceberg:
Icebergs near Greenland’s shores often ground in shallow bays, where they can suddenly calve or flip. Warm weather accelerates melting, increasing calving risks, while ocean currents and winds can either push icebergs away or trap them closer to shore.
This month’s iceberg in Innaarsuit raised similar concerns. However, in the end, it dislodged from the shallows and drifted away, sparing the shoreline structures.
The iceberg at Innaarsuit’s shore in July 2025. Photo: Municipality of North Greenland via Orla Joelsen/X
