Yesterday marked 17 years since the avalanche in Flateyri in the West Fjords. The avalanche slammed into buildings with 45 people inside. Twenty people died as a result.

Some of the houses which were impacted were previously considered outside of the danger zone, but severe weather conditions were present that day, visir.is reports.

The day was one of the saddest days in the history of Iceland. Immediately after the avalanche hit, 340 rescue workers were sent to the area.

“To this day, people think about the many victims and those who were in need of assistance,” local resident and avalanche survivor Eiríkur Finnur Greipsson told bb.is.

“Our house was hit by the avalanche and my wife and I were home with our two sons. We were rescued from our house about an hour after the avalanche hit,” he said.

Eiríkur said that the town’s residents greatly appreciated the love and support shown to the community by the nearby areas and from the entire nation.'”

The avalanche in Flateyri followed an equally devastating avalanche which hit Súðavík, also in the West Fjords, in January the same year, resulting in 14 casualties.

Related stories:

September 28 New Avalanche Barrier to be Built in Siglufjörður

March 28 Barrier Reduces Avalanche Size in West Iceland

October 30, 2010 Photos: Avalanche in Flateyri: 15 Years Past (Photos Never Before Published)

ZR