Police prepare for eclipse crowds as traffic builds out of town

Police in Iceland’s capital area have increased their response ahead of the total solar eclipse, but traffic has so far remained typical for a Wednesday, apart from heavier traffic leaving town, mbl.is reports.

Árni Friðleifsson, chief sergeant with the traffic department, said officers were well staffed at locations where people were expected to gather, including Seltjarnarnes, Ægisíða and Álftanes.

“We are waiting for the party to start, if it starts at all,” he told mbl.is.

Friðleifsson said the rain falling across the capital area made watching the sky unattractive, except perhaps through a transparent umbrella. As a result, people may stay home or leave the capital area.

“There has not been more traffic in the capital area than on ordinary days, but there has been heavy traffic out of town and through the Hvalfjörður tunnel,” he said. The tunnel was close to being shut earlier because of pollution sensors and will automatically close for 20 minutes if pollution becomes too high.

The staffing of the capital-area fire service is otherwise normal, but four additional ambulances have been stationed around the city during the afternoon.

Two are positioned at Björk’s concert at Víðistaðatún, where about 8,000 people are expected to gather to watch the eclipse. The other two are being deployed at locations where crowds form.