Farmers face devastation after glacial flood from Mýrdalsjökull glacier in Iceland

Fields have been inundated, and fences have disappeared following a glacial flood from the Mýrdalsjökull glacier over the weekend. Farmers in the vicinity of the Skálm river are now left to face significant destruction, with fields and livestock suffering considerable losses. Gottsveinn Eggertsson, a farmer from Holti, expressed resignation, stating that there is little choice but to accept the situation as it stands.

The flooding occurred just as farmers were beginning a second round of haymaking for the summer, unexpectedly reminding them of nature’s power. Gottsveinn noted that he never anticipated experiencing such devastation, even though he had feared it could happen. He predicts that the fields will need to be plowed again, as haymaking will not be possible next year.

Another local farmer, Jóhannes Gissurarson, is currently searching for his livestock, which had been grazing in the affected fields before the flood. While he has managed to rescue some animals that seem to have survived, his search has been arduous due to the saturated ground, which caused his vehicle to become stuck in the mud. He also mentioned the difficulty of identifying any lost livestock due to the debris, including mud and rocks, which obscured visibility.

Both farmers believe that local authorities have been negligent and need to take action. They have raised concerns for over three decades about the need to return the river to its former course, a move they argue is critical for preventing future disasters. The full impact of the flooding on the local livestock population may not be clear until later in the autumn.