Ring Road closed between Vík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur due to glacial outburst flood from Mýrdalsjökull

The Ring Road remains closed between Vík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur due to a glacial outburst flood from Mýrdalsjökull that occurred yesterday. The road has been damaged on the east side of the Skálm river, and repair work commenced early this morning. A natural disaster expert indicated that two glacial outburst floods likely happened yesterday, with one being smaller in scale.

Augúst Freyr Bjartmarsson, the chief supervisor for the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration in Vík, reported that efforts are underway to restore the road connection over the Skálm river, just east of Vík. Two excavators are on-site, and trucks are transporting materials to repair the damaged road.

Böðvar Sveinsson, a natural disaster expert, provided insights this morning, stating it was probable that two glacial floods occurred yesterday. He noted fluctuations around the Emstru river and Markarfljót and suggested that activity in that area would soon subside. He also mentioned a minor earthquake activity in the western part of Mýrdalsjökull, possibly related to the smaller flood reported at Emstru.

Additionally, there has been seismic activity detected at Goðabunga on Mýrdalsjökull since around 6 AM today. Elísabet Pálmadóttir, a meteorological expert, emphasized that seismic events following such floods are typical, with initial measurements indicating the largest tremors being close to a magnitude of three. She reassured that there is no sign of volcanic unrest, and the recent seismic activity is not unexpected. Repair work on the Ring Road continues, though updates on progress remain pending.