Residents warned of landslide risks in Westfjords of Iceland

Residents in parts of the Westfjords of Iceland have been advised to stay away from rooms facing the steep slopes of Eyrarhlíð due to ongoing landslide activity. Heavy rainfall over recent days has saturated the soil, prompting multiple landslides since yesterday evening. The main road through Ísafjarðardjúp, Djúpvegur, has been closed since last night, and it is unclear when it will reopen.

Around 3 PM today, a significant landslide occurred on Eyrarhlíð, blocking the road between Hnífsdalur and Ísafjörður, prompting a closure that will last until tomorrow. The road in Súðavíkurhlíð has also been closed due to the risk of rockfalls. Emergency shelters have been established in Ísafjörður and Bolungarvík for those unable to return home, but these were closed later in the evening as they were no longer needed.

The authorities have warned locals in areas near the land movement to avoid windows facing the slopes and suggested that people do not travel near the hills until conditions improve. Although the weather may see a decrease in rainfall tomorrow, forecasts suggest that rain will return on Thursday.

People in the area have been urged to conserve water as contamination risks have arisen from landslides affecting water supplies. Reports indicate that shopping centers have seen a rush as residents stockpile bottled water.

As the situation develops, experts continue to monitor the weather, anticipating further instability in the hills due to the saturation of the soil, which could lead to more landslides in the coming days.