Illorsuit

On 17 June 2017, a landslide measuring 300 m × 1,100 m (980 ft × 3,610 ft) fell about 1,000 m (3,280 ft) into Karrat Fjord, generating a megatsunami that hit Nuugaatsiaq.[2][3][4] Initially it was unclear if the landslide was caused by a small earthquake (magnitude 4),[2][5] but later it was confirmed that the landslide had caused the tremors.[3] The tsunami had an initial height of 90 to 100 m (295 to 328 ft), but it was significantly lower once it hit Nuugaatsiaq, where it had a run-up height of 9 metres (30 ft).[3][4] Four people were killed and nine were injured at Nuugaatsiaq, and eleven buildings were washed into the water.[2][3][4][5][6] Illorsuit also suffered tsunami damage.[7] An evacuation of 170 residents of Illorsuit and Nuugaatsiaq followed because of a danger of additional landslides and waves.[4][8] Illorsuit was abandoned in 2018, and as of March 2023, both llorsuit and Nuugaatsiaq remained uninhabited due to the continuing threat of landslide-generated tsunamis.[9]

Prior to Illorsuit′s abandonment, Air Greenland served the village as part of government contract, with mostly cargo helicopter flights from Illorsuit Heliport to Nuugaatsiaq and Uummannaq.[10]

Before Illorsuit's abandonment, its population had dropped by 28 percent relative to the 1990 levels and by nearly 17 percent relative to the 2000 levels, reflecting a general trend in the region.[1]

Illorsuit population growth dynamics in the last two decades. Source: Statistics Greenland[1]

• Lars Emil Johansen (b. 1946), the second Prime Minister of Greenland
• Rockwell Kent (1882–1971), American artist who spent time in Illorsuit[11]