120 travellers who had been left stranded by the flooding in South East Iceland were evacuated yesterday afternoon and evening by the Icelandic Coast Guard. The travellers had been staying at hotels and guesthouses in the area affected by the flood, as well as at an emergency shelter up up by ICE-SAR outside the town of Höfn in Hornafjörður fjord. The Ring Road is badly damaged in South East Iceland. Further rain is expected today.
Read more: Photos: See the destruction and flooding in South East Iceland
Travellers stranded by flooding
Torrential rains in South East and East Iceland have caused rivers in the region to flood. By Wednesday evening the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration had closed the Ring Road, the main highway which circles Iceland, between the bridge over the river Hólmsá and Flatey farm. Hólmsá river had breached the road, as well as washing away large sections of the shoulder, making the road unsafe for traffic. Yesterday, Thursday, the IRCA closed a second stretch of the road at Steinavöð river, where the swelling river had undermined the bridge, making it dangerously unsafe.
40 travellers tranded at one hotel
The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports that as many as 40 travellers were stuck at Hótel Smyrlabjörg, which is located between the two spots where the Ring Road was closed. The closings also mean that the town of Höfn and entire East Iceland were cut off from the Ring Road to South Iceland. The only way for the residents of Höfn or East Iceland to reach Reykjavík is to take the longer route, travelling the Ring Road north.
Yesterday the Coast Guard and ICE-SAR evacuated these travellers by helicopter. RÚV reports that nearly all of the 120 travellers who were evacuated were foreign visitors who had been travelling in South East or East Iceland when the flooding began.
For a full reporting on the storm and its effects see our previous stories:
Early Wednesday morning the Ring Road in Berufjörður had been closed: Travel alert: Swelling rivers in E. Iceland due to heavy rain. Ring Road re-opened in Berufjörður
Wednesday afternoon ICE-SAR helped rescue sheep in East Iceland: Flock of lambs drowns: ICE-SAR rescues sheep in floods caused by torrential rain in E. Iceland
Later on Wednesday afternoon the Ring Road was closed in Hornafjörður fjord: Travel alert: Ring Road has been closed by Hólmsá river in S.E. Iceland
Wednesday evening it became clear the Ring Road will not be re-opened for a while: UPDATE Travel alert: Ring Road in East Iceland will remain closed due to flooding
Early Thursday morning travellers who spent the night in emergency shelters woke up to make new travel plans as the Ring Road will remain closed for 2-3 days: 60-70 travellers spent night in emergency shelters: Ring Road to remain closed in SE Iceland for 2-3 days due to floods
120 travellers who had been left stranded by the flooding in South East Iceland were evacuated yesterday afternoon and evening by the Icelandic Coast Guard. The travellers had been staying at hotels and guesthouses in the area affected by the flood, as well as at an emergency shelter up up by ICE-SAR outside the town of Höfn in Hornafjörður fjord. The Ring Road is badly damaged in South East Iceland. Further rain is expected today.
Read more: Photos: See the destruction and flooding in South East Iceland
Travellers stranded by flooding
Torrential rains in South East and East Iceland have caused rivers in the region to flood. By Wednesday evening the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration had closed the Ring Road, the main highway which circles Iceland, between the bridge over the river Hólmsá and Flatey farm. Hólmsá river had breached the road, as well as washing away large sections of the shoulder, making the road unsafe for traffic. Yesterday, Thursday, the IRCA closed a second stretch of the road at Steinavöð river, where the swelling river had undermined the bridge, making it dangerously unsafe.
40 travellers tranded at one hotel
The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports that as many as 40 travellers were stuck at Hótel Smyrlabjörg, which is located between the two spots where the Ring Road was closed. The closings also mean that the town of Höfn and entire East Iceland were cut off from the Ring Road to South Iceland. The only way for the residents of Höfn or East Iceland to reach Reykjavík is to take the longer route, travelling the Ring Road north.
Yesterday the Coast Guard and ICE-SAR evacuated these travellers by helicopter. RÚV reports that nearly all of the 120 travellers who were evacuated were foreign visitors who had been travelling in South East or East Iceland when the flooding began.
For a full reporting on the storm and its effects see our previous stories:
Early Wednesday morning the Ring Road in Berufjörður had been closed: Travel alert: Swelling rivers in E. Iceland due to heavy rain. Ring Road re-opened in Berufjörður
Wednesday afternoon ICE-SAR helped rescue sheep in East Iceland: Flock of lambs drowns: ICE-SAR rescues sheep in floods caused by torrential rain in E. Iceland
Later on Wednesday afternoon the Ring Road was closed in Hornafjörður fjord: Travel alert: Ring Road has been closed by Hólmsá river in S.E. Iceland
Wednesday evening it became clear the Ring Road will not be re-opened for a while: UPDATE Travel alert: Ring Road in East Iceland will remain closed due to flooding
Early Thursday morning travellers who spent the night in emergency shelters woke up to make new travel plans as the Ring Road will remain closed for 2-3 days: 60-70 travellers spent night in emergency shelters: Ring Road to remain closed in SE Iceland for 2-3 days due to floods
