Rockfall sends an estimated 10-tonne boulder across the Ring Road

An estimated 10-tonne boulder broke through rockfall barriers and crossed Iceland’s Ring Road near Holtsnúpur beneath Eyjafjöll, mbl.is reports.

Einar Viðarsson, a local resident and contractor, said the boulder travelled so far beyond the road that it could easily have killed someone if it had hit a car. He said the road needed to be moved several hundred metres farther away.

The barriers were installed in the area this summer, and most of the rockfall was stopped by them.

A fatal crash occurred at a similar location in March last year, when falling rocks struck a car carrying three women on the road. One woman died. Rocks also fell onto the road at a similar location in August last year.