Ring Road remains closed east of Vík due to glacial flood from Mýrdalsjökull

The Ring Road remains closed in sections east of Vík due to a glacial flood from Mýrdalsjökull that occurred yesterday. The road is damaged east of the Skálm River, and repairs were commenced early this morning. Authorities aim to reopen the road after 8 PM.

Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson, a geophysicist, described the event as one of four significant occurrences at Mýrdalsjökull since the 1918 Katla eruption. The most recent damage, affecting a 700-meter stretch of road west of a ravine, will take several days to repair. Meanwhile, traffic will be managed to allow single-lane passage.

Increased traffic has been reported since the road closure, with many drivers opting for the detour via Fjallabak, which is only accessible to well-equipped vehicles. Meanwhile, safety alerts remain in effect due to expected heavy rainfall, creating potential water level increases in rivers and streams.

Authorities began repair work after the river flow subsided notably, allowing access to affected areas. There were indications of two distinct glacial floods yesterday, with the second smaller than previous events recorded in 1955, 1999, and 2011.

Minor seismic activity was detected near the glacier overnight, although experts consider this normal following such flooding events. No signs of imminent eruptions were noted, and the geophysical changes beneath the glacier are causing these tremors.

Traffic updates and further information about the conditions can be monitored online.