Construction signs are placed outside the Kiruna Church, a Sami style wooden Swedish Lutheran church, called Kiruna Kyrka in Swedish, in Kiruna, Sweden, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, a day before it will be moved along a 5-kilometer (3-mile) route east to a new city center as part of the town’s relocation. (AP Photo/Malin Haarala)

The Kiruna Church is being moved this week along a three-mile route east as part of the town’s relocation. It’s happening because the world’s largest underground iron-ore mine is threatening to swallow the town.

The Kiruna Church – called Kiruna Kyrka in Swedish – and its belfry are being moved this week along a three-mile route to a new city centre as part of the town’s relocation. The world’s largest underground iron-ore mine is threatening to swallow the town,