A torch for every life lost
After the memorial service in Flateyri Church, rescue team members lit 20 torches in memory of the 20 people who lost their lives in the avalanche on October 26, 1995. mbl.is/Halldór Sveinbjörnsson
It was a deeply emotional moment when a Coast Guard helicopter landed in Flateyri yesterday, October 26, 2025 — exactly thirty years after Coast Guard helicopters first arrived in the town following the avalanche from Skollahvilft, which claimed twenty lives. This time, the helicopter carried passengers who had come to take part in a memorial ceremony honoring the victims of the disaster.
Among those who arrived by helicopter were Georg Lárusson, Director General of the Icelandic Coast Guard; Benóný Ásgrímsson, who piloted the Coast Guard helicopter TF-LÍF thirty years ago; and Jón Svanberg Hjartarson, then deputy head of the Flateyri search and rescue team and now CEO of the Emergency Line (Neyðarlínan).
Also on board were members of the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue (ICE-SAR) and Hlynur Kristjánsson from Flateyri, who was only 13 years old when the avalanche struck — and who was interviewed by Morgunblaðið on Saturday.
Several others who had taken part in the rescue operations in the days after the avalanche were also among the passengers. The Coast Guard vessel Freyja sailed to Önundarfjörður yesterday as well, carrying crew members who had served aboard the ships Týr and Óðinn during the 1995 disaster.
30 Years — A Coast Guard helicopter comes in to land at Flateyri. In the fjord lies the Coast Guard vessel Freyja, which carried crew members who served aboard Óðinn and Týr.
The memorial was led by Reverend Fjölnir Ásbjörnsson, who opened the ceremony by reading aloud the names of the twenty victims.
“We ended the gathering by walking to the memorial stone outside Flateyri Church, where I offered a prayer and blessing,” said Ásbjörnsson .
At the close of the ceremony, rescue team members lit twenty torches — one for each person who lost their life.
“It was a very solemn and beautiful occasion, and a fine day,” Ásbjörnsson said.
After the ceremony, guests were invited to the community center for coffee and refreshments.
