Between 60 and 70 travellers, mostly foreign travellers, spent the night at two emergency shelters set up by ICE-SAR and the Police in South Iceland after the Ring Road was closed in Hornafjörður fjord in South East Iceland. The Icelandic Road and Coastal Authority and the Coast Guard are assesing the damage to the road.
Damage to road being assesed
Yesterday evening at dark the IRCA had not yet been able to asses the full extent of the damage to the road. Today at the break of dawn the Coast Guard flew over the area to survey the damage.
The IRCA does not expect the Ring Road will be re-opened today, and will most likely remain closed for the next two or three days, as yesterday's flood in Hólmsá river breached the road at several spots, washing away large parts of the shoulder and cutting the road in three places. Bridges across the river have also been damaged.
Travellers stuck in emergency shelters
The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports that the two emergency shelters set up by ICE-SAR yesterday to accommodate travellers who were left stranded by the closing of the road housed between 60 and 70 travellers, nearly all of whom were foreign visitors. 30 people spent the night at the emergency shelter on the east side of the stretch which was closed, and at least 35 on the western side.
Since there is no other road around Hornafjörður the only option these travellers face is to either wait for the two or three days it will take to repair the road, or turn around.
A natural catastrophe
The flooding was caused by torrential rains in East and South East Iceland had caused rivers in the area to flood. The IRCA closed the Ring Road between Hólmsá river in Hornafjörður and the farm Flatey, as the river had flooded a long stretch of the road. The Ring Road had previously been closed in Berufjörður fjord, further north.
Farmers in Fljótsdalur in East Iceland lost sheep as fields flooded and the entire fjord of Berufjörður is without power. See our previous reporting:
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
Between 60 and 70 travellers, mostly foreign travellers, spent the night at two emergency shelters set up by ICE-SAR and the Police in South Iceland after the Ring Road was closed in Hornafjörður fjord in South East Iceland. The Icelandic Road and Coastal Authority and the Coast Guard are assesing the damage to the road.
Damage to road being assesed
Yesterday evening at dark the IRCA had not yet been able to asses the full extent of the damage to the road. Today at the break of dawn the Coast Guard flew over the area to survey the damage.
The IRCA does not expect the Ring Road will be re-opened today, and will most likely remain closed for the next two or three days, as yesterday's flood in Hólmsá river breached the road at several spots, washing away large parts of the shoulder and cutting the road in three places. Bridges across the river have also been damaged.
Travellers stuck in emergency shelters
The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports that the two emergency shelters set up by ICE-SAR yesterday to accommodate travellers who were left stranded by the closing of the road housed between 60 and 70 travellers, nearly all of whom were foreign visitors. 30 people spent the night at the emergency shelter on the east side of the stretch which was closed, and at least 35 on the western side.
Since there is no other road around Hornafjörður the only option these travellers face is to either wait for the two or three days it will take to repair the road, or turn around.
A natural catastrophe
The flooding was caused by torrential rains in East and South East Iceland had caused rivers in the area to flood. The IRCA closed the Ring Road between Hólmsá river in Hornafjörður and the farm Flatey, as the river had flooded a long stretch of the road. The Ring Road had previously been closed in Berufjörður fjord, further north.
Farmers in Fljótsdalur in East Iceland lost sheep as fields flooded and the entire fjord of Berufjörður is without power. See our previous reporting:
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
