Mudslide Stops in Farm’s Backyard

A mudslide occurred at about 6 pm Sunday night very near the farm Hof in Öræfi, Southeast Iceland, mbl.is reports. It came to a halt by the farm’s clothesline, only a few meters from the farmhouse. The mudslide rolled down large rocks and swept away numerous birches, which were planted decades ago, just above the farmhouse.

Örn Bergsson and Brynja Kristjánsdóttir live on the farm. Örn tells mbl.is that the mudslide occurred in Hofsfjall mountain. A similar event happened, he states, in 1940 and again in 1950. Subsequently, a channel for a mudslide was created as a precautionary measure. Monday’s mudslide filled the new channel and more. At the bottom of the slope, it is 100 meters (330 yards) wide.

“You know the history,” Örn states, “so when you have a lot of snow and there is a thaw, you stay alert.” The channel will have to be dug again, he adds, to keep them safe, but he believes the danger has passed for now.

Brynja states they decided not to stay in the house overnight, following the event. She is convinced that the birches, to some extent, slowed down the mudslide.