Residents in Siglufjörður, Iceland, demand action after severe flooding disrupts lives and damages homes

Residents of Siglufjörður, Iceland, are expressing frustration after experiencing recurrent flooding, most recently from heavy rainfall in August. For years, locals have been forced to pump water from their homes due to similar incidents, making them skeptical about promises for improvements to the town’s drainage system.

In late August, over 200 millimeters of rain fell within 48 hours, significantly more than the total rainfall in Reykjavík for the entire month. Flooding affected at least 25 houses, and residents continue assessing the damage. One local estimates their losses at around three million Icelandic krónur, similar to past damages.

Local businesses and homeowners are growing impatient with the municipality, which they feel has failed to address the recurring issues. Floodwaters have damaged the structural integrity of homes, leading to extensive refurbishment without a resolution in sight.

“There’s no way to finalize repairs until we know this won’t happen again,” remarked one local entrepreneur, highlighting the mounting challenges they face, including approval for permits to proceed with repairs.

Despite previous upgrades to the drainage system, it has not been able to cope with the volume of water during these storms. The municipality has engaged independent experts to review the drainage infrastructure and are planning discussions with affected residents.

The mayor acknowledged the persistent frustration of residents and stated that they are actively working to improve the situation, having personally experienced similar flooding issues in their own home. Nonetheless, without significant improvements, many believe their properties remain uninhabitable.