Glacial outburst flood has started: Water flowing over the highway

Glacial runoff has started.

Glacial runoff has started. mbl.is/RAX

A glacial outburst flood  has started in Skálm east of Mýrdalsjökull . Glacial water floods the highway in the area.

This is what Böðvar Sveinsson, a natural disaster expert at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, says in an interview with mbl.is.

It is difficult to say the size of the flood, but the water level has risen by almost one meter since this morning.

He says that recently there has been seismic activity which indicates that the kettle hole is emptying.

Photo//​Jó­hann­es Giss­ur­ar­son

Closed between Vík and Laufskálavarða


It is stated in the Road Administration's notice that due to the glacier outburst flood, highway 1 is closed between Vík and Laufskálavarða .

"At this time it is not known how long this closure will last, new information will be released as it becomes available."

Photo//​Jó­hann­es Giss­ur­ar­son

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