The Flateyri Avalanche of 1995
The Flateyri avalanche occurred in
October 1995 and is one of the deadliest avalanches
in Icelandic history.
A total of 20 people lost their lives
when the avalanche struck the village.
The avalanche descended from the slopes of
Mount Eyrarfjall
above the village of
Flateyri
in
Önundarfjörður
in the
Westfjords.
The disaster marked a turning point in avalanche safety in Iceland
and led to major improvements in hazard mapping and protective measures.
Today, the Flateyri avalanche remains a powerful reminder
of the strength of Iceland’s natural forces.