One of the most popular tourist destinations in South Iceland has been closed to the public. After several massive boulders fell onto the walking path behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall on Saturday Police in South Iceland decided the path should be closed to ensure the safety of visitors. The path will remain closed until authorities can be certain the rock wall behind the waterfall is secure and the walking path safe.
Nobody was injured in the Saturday incidence. Hundreds of travellers take the walking path behind the waterfall every day.
A tour group witnessed the rockfall
On Saturday several large boulders fell down from the cliffs walls around the waterfall. The boulders, most of which weighed around 100 kg (220 lbs), rolled down the hills onto the walking path which leads behind the waterfall, while others nearly made it onto the parking lot used by visitors to the waterfall. The Police in South Iceland announced the walking path behind the waterfall would remain closed at least until Monday while conditions were assessed.
According to the local newspaper Morgunblaðið several people were on the walking path when the rockfall took place. The people were shaken by the incidence, but nobody was hurt.
Some travellers refuse to respect the closing
The Icelandic National Broadcasting ServiceRÚV reports that since some visitors have stubbornly refused to respect the closing, the Police in South Iceland has considered placing a guard by the waterfall to ensure the safety of visitors.
An expert in avalanches and mud- and rockslides with the Icelandic Meteorological Office inspected the site on Sunday. He told RÚV he did not expect any major further rockfalls as the cliffs behind and around the waterfall seemed to be secure. He said he expects the walking path behind the waterfall will be re-opened soon: I think that there is no reason to expect otherwise. But there is always the possibility of further rockfalls, it is impossible to rule out that possibility.
One of the most popular tourist destinations in South Iceland has been closed to the public. After several massive boulders fell onto the walking path behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall on Saturday Police in South Iceland decided the path should be closed to ensure the safety of visitors. The path will remain closed until authorities can be certain the rock wall behind the waterfall is secure and the walking path safe.
Nobody was injured in the Saturday incidence. Hundreds of travellers take the walking path behind the waterfall every day.
A tour group witnessed the rockfall
On Saturday several large boulders fell down from the cliffs walls around the waterfall. The boulders, most of which weighed around 100 kg (220 lbs), rolled down the hills onto the walking path which leads behind the waterfall, while others nearly made it onto the parking lot used by visitors to the waterfall. The Police in South Iceland announced the walking path behind the waterfall would remain closed at least until Monday while conditions were assessed.
According to the local newspaper Morgunblaðið several people were on the walking path when the rockfall took place. The people were shaken by the incidence, but nobody was hurt.
Some travellers refuse to respect the closing
The Icelandic National Broadcasting ServiceRÚV reports that since some visitors have stubbornly refused to respect the closing, the Police in South Iceland has considered placing a guard by the waterfall to ensure the safety of visitors.
An expert in avalanches and mud- and rockslides with the Icelandic Meteorological Office inspected the site on Sunday. He told RÚV he did not expect any major further rockfalls as the cliffs behind and around the waterfall seemed to be secure. He said he expects the walking path behind the waterfall will be re-opened soon: I think that there is no reason to expect otherwise. But there is always the possibility of further rockfalls, it is impossible to rule out that possibility.
