Avalanche warning in Patreksfjörður

The decision has been taken to evacuate a number of apartment blocks in Patreksfjörður, North-West Iceland, due to the risk of avalanches in the area. The situation is being closely followed and more evacuations may follow.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office has issued an avalanche warning in Patreksfjörður. According to meterologists at the IMO, avalanches have alread affected some roads in the area. The situation has quickly become dangerous as a result for the recent bad weather.

Update: 2:39pm

An 70m-wide avalanche is reported to have swept away an empty vehicle in the town of Patreksfjörður. Thirteen nearby buildings are to be evacuated.