Landslide tests Ísafjörður barriers for first time

A landslide that came down Eyrarfjall in Ísafjörður on Saturday struck protective barriers beneath Gleiðarhjalli for what is believed to be the first time, mbl.is reported. The barriers were built decades ago to protect against rockfalls, landslides and avalanches.

Mayor Gylfi Ólafsson said the barriers are about 10 metres high. The slide did not reach the wall itself, he said, but without the barriers it could have flowed into nearby houses. A larger landslide fell two years ago, but outside the barriers.

mbl.is correspondent Halldór Sveinbjörnsson said large rocks had previously travelled down the mountain and carved the channel used by Saturday’s slide. He recalled that rocks once headed towards a house, but a bulldozer operator managed to change their course. They struck a garage beside the house and eventually ended up in the sea.

Work was under way on Monday to remove the remaining debris.