A daring rescue operation is underway to save over 200 sheep abandoned by farmers in the aftermath of a volcanic eruption near the evacuated town of Grindavik in Iceland.
As molten lava engulfs homes and the ground cracks open, rescue teams are risking their lives to evacuate approximately 270 stranded animals that have been without food and water for days.
Initially overlooked as a priority, concerns arose when footage showed expensive machinery being prioritized over the sheep. While one farmer managed to persuade rescuers to evacuate 30 sheep on Monday, an estimated 270 more remain in perilous locations.
Grindavik, situated in the southwest of Iceland, was evacuated before Christmas due to the eruption of the nearby Fagradalsfjall volcano on December 18. Some farmers had returned with their livestock in the following weeks.
A subsequent major eruption on Sunday prompted another evacuation, leaving the sheep behind. Animal Welfare campaigners raised alarms about the overlooked livestock.
Anna Berg Samúelsdóttir, a board member of the Animal Welfare Association of Iceland, expressed concern that the authorities initially seemed unaware of the livestock's presence in the danger zone. She emphasized the urgency of the situation, citing dangerous conditions with cracks and shifts in the land.
Iceland's president, Guðni Th Jóhannesson, acknowledged the country's battle with "tremendous forces of nature" and highlighted the high-risk nature of the area, where new fissures could open without warning. While there have been no confirmed deaths due to the recent eruptions, one person is reported missing after falling into a fissure.