Western Greenland could see more flooding like Saturday's tsunami

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

• Tsunami hits Greenland; at least 4 feared dead

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.

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 communitiesof 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, Bergsaid.

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

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.