• Kiruna Church is being relocated to avoid collapse from an expanding iron-ore mine.
• The move, featuring live broadcasts and public festivities, is a major engineering feat.
• Concerns have been raised about impacts on local Sami communities and wildlife.
• The church is expected to reopen in its new location by late 2026.
• Relocation costs are estimated at approximately $52 million, covered by the mining company LKAB.

The iconic Kiruna Church, also known as Kiruna Kyrka, is being meticulously moved along a 5-kilometer (3-mile) route to a new town center as part of a larger effort to relocate the community. This initiative has been prompted by the expansion of Europe’s largest underground iron-ore mine, which poses a serious threat to the town's structural integrity. The relocation is a coordinated effort that began with a blessing by church officials and has garnered massive public interest, with an estimated 10,000 supporters lining the streets to witness the historic event, according to India Times and South China Morning Post.

Kiruna Church, built in 1912 and voted "best building of all time" in Sweden, is undergoing this relocation due to severe ground destabilization caused by underground mining activities since 2004. Officials noticed cracks in infrastructures as the mine expanded toward a depth of 1,365 meters (4,478 feet), prompting the need for a strategic move. The public phase of the church's journey included live performances and media coverage by Swedish broadcasters, adding an element of spectacle to the town's major engineering project, as detailed by Los Angeles Times and HuffPost.

The logistics involved in this monumental task are complex, involving extensive preparation to ensure the church's safety during its journey. Engineers widened roads and installed temporary supports to maneuver the structure, which weighs 672 metric tons (741 tons). The church is being slowly transported using remote-controlled trailers, expected to complete the move at a pace of approximately 0.5 to 1.5 kilometers per hour (0.31 to 0.93 miles per hour) over two days. Additionally, the church's interior artifacts, like the organ and altarpiece, were carefully packaged for transit, highlighting the significance of this relocation, as reported by South China Morning Post, India Times, and HuffPost.

While many celebrate this ambitious endeavor, it has also drawn criticism, particularly from members of the local Sami community. Concerns have been raised regarding the impact of mining expansion on reindeer migration routes, potentially jeopardizing livelihoods of Indigenous herders. This aspect of the story demonstrates the complex interplay between environmental management, community welfare, and cultural heritage, as pointed out by Los Angeles Times and HuffPost.