Telecommunications failure impacts Skagaströnd residents following severe flooding in Iceland

Last night and into the early hours of today, residents of Skagaströnd experienced a significant telecommunications failure, impacting phone, internet, and TETRA networks. The disruption stemmed from a single fiber optic cable being severed during intense flooding near the town. Repair operations progressed efficiently, and by midday, full connectivity was restored.

Initially, the estimated repair time was around eight hours due to challenging conditions at the site, which included darkness and icy terrain that made it difficult to access the fault with the necessary equipment. However, as daylight broke, the situation improved, enabling the repair team to work more effectively.

Local authorities highlighted the urgent need to complete a secondary ring connection around Skagaströnd to ensure residents have more than one communication route in case of future issues. Currently, approximately 9.3 kilometers of necessary fiber connections are still missing.

The lack of police presence and ambulance access during the outage raised significant safety concerns, particularly for vulnerable populations in care facilities, where one staff member was on duty. The nursing home relies entirely on a 4G and wireless network for its communication and alert systems.

Officials have stressed the importance of developing an emergency response plan to prepare for possible future crises, ensuring that residents are aware of how to respond in an emergency situation. The region’s leadership emphasized that quick and reliable communication is vital for maintaining safety and security among the community.