State of alert in South Iceland raised to hazard level

The National Police Commissioner has raised the security alert in South Iceland to hazard level. This was done in accordance with the local police authorities. Hazard level means that added emerency and security services are called out and some areas are closed off. 

"The weather in the Westman Islands is extremely bad now, the storm has hit full force," explains Rögnvaldur Ólafsson, director of the state civil defence department to mbl.is. The civil defence department at Skógarhlíð now has representatives from the state police, rescue teams, the Iceland Road Administration, Míla and The Post and Telecom administration in Iceland. 

The main ring road has been closed from Hvolsvöllur in the south to Reyðarfjörður in the east. 

Wind speeds in the Westman Islands have now reached 30 m/s. Ólafsson states that it's clear that the weather is going according to the forecast.