Guests stranded at Hotel Klaustur in Kirkjubæjarklaustur await Ring Road reopening after glacial flood

Many guests at Hotel Klaustur in Kirkjubæjarklaustur are eagerly waiting for the reopening of the Ring Road, which has been closed due to a glacial flood from Mýrdalsjökull that began yesterday. While some roads in the area have been reopened, Skálmar Bridge remains impassable. Hotel manager Sveinn Hreiðar Jensson indicates that many guests are in a state of uncertainty, with about half unable to secure flights as they remain stranded.

Some guests have opted to drive east to catch flights from Höfn or Egilsstaðir to continue their travels to Europe and beyond. However, those who chose to wait are hoping for updates by midday. The hotel has experienced a significant number of cancellations, impacting their operations for the day, as many guests have been unable to reach the hotel.

Even with some roads reopening, the situation remains precarious. Jensson has pointed out a lack of preparedness for glacial floods, despite these events being a regular occurrence in the area. He emphasizes the need for the government to have a contingency plan for protecting roads and bridges to better equip themselves for such occurrences in the future.

Furthermore, Jensson stresses that strengthening the highland roads, especially Fjallabak nyrðri, is essential, as the current disruptions affect thousands of tourists. The scale of the impact was highlighted during a winter seminar on safety infrastructure, revealing that tourist numbers can spike by 40% during peak seasons.

Jensson calls for enhanced response plans from the national road authority to facilitate quicker road repairs, stating, “Every hour counts in minimizing financial losses.” Lastly, he notes that current circumstances necessitate a reevaluation of emergency medical transport arrangements, as airlifting may become critical when road access is limited.