Sheep might have fallen pray to the glacial outburst flood

Jóhannes Gissurarson, a farmer at Herjólfsstaðir in Álftaver, believes that it is logical to think that some sheep have fallen prey to the glacier outburst flood, which began in Skálm on Saturday.

He says glacier outburst floods are not new in these areas, but that this was a big one.

"This is nothing new, but it is one of the biggest in recent years. I would think it was at least less than the 2011 Mulakvíslar flood, if not more. It's a huge flood that spreads above Highway 1," he says.

Will be revealed this fall

The glacier outburst flood did not cover Gissurarson’s field, but he does have sheep in the flooded area.

He took 150 sheep and lambs to these places a month ago. Yesterday he went to see if he saw sheep in distress.

Gissurarson says it's impossible to know for sure if the sheep escaped before the herding this fall. However, he is afraid that sheep were in the area where the glacial outburst flood crossed.

"I think it's logical to think that there were some circumstances like that that led to the loss [of sheep]," he says.

Earlier there was a smaller glacial outburst flood in Leirá River

He points out that since 2014, water from Leirá River has found its way into Skálm. The source of the run comes from the glacier in Leirá, which then flows into Skálm.

He mentions that in the past there were smaller runs in Leirá, but with those runs the channel in Leirá was filled. Then a new channel was formed that flows in Skálm.

"What happens is, even though we were in constant contact with Soil Conservation Service of Iceland, Roads, and Civil Protection, and the institutions that you thought could help in this matter, nothing happened," he says, adding that the Skálm bridge was not made to withstand such a powerful glacial outburst flood.