Mudslides and flooding caused by the torrential rains in South East and East Iceland have left many farmers struggling to get their livestock to safety. At least 40 sheep are feared to have drowned in Fljótsdalur valley in East Iceland, and an unknown number is believed to have been buried alive under a mudslide in Hamarsfjörður fjord. Members of ICE-SAR in East Iceland have assisted farmers in rescuing sheep.
The local news site Vísir reports that more than 20 sheep were rescued by ICE-SAR from a mudslide in a mountainside in Hamarsfjörður fjord yesterday morning. Members of the ICE-SAR company Báran from Djúpivogur village in the Eastfjords assisted the farmer at Hamarssel in rescuing the sheep. The farmer told the local news site Vísir in that the mudslide had been huge, and that it covered a large part of his field, where the sheep were grazing. He had not yet determined how many sheep were still buried in the mudslide.
On Wednesday ICE-SAR units had assisted farmers in Fljótsdalur valley rescue sheep from flooded fields. Initially it was feared that as many as 200 sheep, mostly lambs, had drowned. A farmer in Fljótsdalur told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that they had been able to rescue 180 sheep. He estimated that the number sheep who drowned at at 40-50.
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
Thursday noon the IRCA closed the Ring Road at Steinavöð river: Ring Road now closed at second point between Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and town of Höfn
Thursday an uncertainty phase was declared for the areas in South East Iceland worst hit by the floods: Civil Protection Agency has declared Uncertainty Level for S.E. Iceland
Thursday afternoon the Coast Guard flew supplies to farmers cut off by the flood: 20-25 farms cut off due to floods in S.E. Iceland: Ring Road has suffered serious damage
Thursday evening the Coast Guard airlifts stranded travellers to safety: 120 travellers stranded by floods airlifted from S.E. Iceland
Friday ICRA announces the Ring Road will remain closed for at least one week while a new temporary bridge is constructed over Steinavað river: Ring Road in SE Iceland will remain closed until end of next week
Mudslides and flooding caused by the torrential rains in South East and East Iceland have left many farmers struggling to get their livestock to safety. At least 40 sheep are feared to have drowned in Fljótsdalur valley in East Iceland, and an unknown number is believed to have been buried alive under a mudslide in Hamarsfjörður fjord. Members of ICE-SAR in East Iceland have assisted farmers in rescuing sheep.
The local news site Vísir reports that more than 20 sheep were rescued by ICE-SAR from a mudslide in a mountainside in Hamarsfjörður fjord yesterday morning. Members of the ICE-SAR company Báran from Djúpivogur village in the Eastfjords assisted the farmer at Hamarssel in rescuing the sheep. The farmer told the local news site Vísir in that the mudslide had been huge, and that it covered a large part of his field, where the sheep were grazing. He had not yet determined how many sheep were still buried in the mudslide.
On Wednesday ICE-SAR units had assisted farmers in Fljótsdalur valley rescue sheep from flooded fields. Initially it was feared that as many as 200 sheep, mostly lambs, had drowned. A farmer in Fljótsdalur told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that they had been able to rescue 180 sheep. He estimated that the number sheep who drowned at at 40-50.
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
Thursday noon the IRCA closed the Ring Road at Steinavöð river: Ring Road now closed at second point between Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and town of Höfn
Thursday an uncertainty phase was declared for the areas in South East Iceland worst hit by the floods: Civil Protection Agency has declared Uncertainty Level for S.E. Iceland
Thursday afternoon the Coast Guard flew supplies to farmers cut off by the flood: 20-25 farms cut off due to floods in S.E. Iceland: Ring Road has suffered serious damage
Thursday evening the Coast Guard airlifts stranded travellers to safety: 120 travellers stranded by floods airlifted from S.E. Iceland
Friday ICRA announces the Ring Road will remain closed for at least one week while a new temporary bridge is constructed over Steinavað river: Ring Road in SE Iceland will remain closed until end of next week
