Tsunami strikes Greenland’s Dickson Fjord, causing no casualties but raising alarms over climate change risks

In September 2023, a massive tsunami measuring 200 meters—equivalent to the height of the pylons of the Øresund Bridge—struck Greenland, but there were no eyewitnesses to this remarkable event. The tsunami occurred in the remote area of Dickson Fjord along Greenland’s eastern coast, affecting only machinery, including an excavator and a boat.

Brian Jensen, Chief of Operations at the Arctic Command, highlighted the severe consequences had the tsunami hit a populated area, recalling a similar incident on June 17, 2017, when a tsunami impacted the villages of Nuugaatsiaq and Illorsuit, resulting in four fatalities.

The tsunami this time primarily affected the sled patrol Sirius’ summer base on Ella Island, which they had just vacated. A former member of the Sirius team, sailing on the cruise ship Ocean Albatros, reported unusual occurrences at Ella Island on September 17, leading to an inspection of the area.

Investigators revealed that the tsunami was triggered by climate change, where a thinning glacier caused the collapse of a mountain peak into Dickson Fjord, generating a massive wave. Though waves at Ella Island, located 70 kilometers away, reached heights of four meters, the water in the fjord surged back and forth for nine days due to the tsunami being contained.

The Arctic Command remains vigilant about the risk of tsunami events, emphasizing the logistical challenges posed by Greenland’s vast distances in emergency response operations. Jensen underscored that while aerial views facilitate oversight, responding effectively requires ground presence, especially when lives are at stake.