More than 30 tourists sought shelter in the Dyrhólaey Hotel on the evening of December 25 when their bus, whose driver had ignored road closures, became stranded in the snow.
The bus in question was operated by the company Hopbílar.
Storms across South and Southeast Iceland interrupted many holiday plans, keeping rescue teams busy for the night. No aid station was opened, with travelers instead seeking last-minute shelter at several hotels across the South Coast.
See also: Airlines Recovering from Storm Delays
Hotel Midgard in Hvolsvöllur is also reported as having opened its doors to more than 70 stranded tourists. Hvolsvöllur, a small town in South Iceland, is often passed through on the way to other South Coast destinations, and serves as a transit hub for the region.
Björg Árnadóttir, manager at the Midgard Hotel, stated to RÚV that not all could be accommodated, with some needing to sleep on mattresses in the hotel lobby.
As of December 26, conditions have begun to clear, with most travelers continuing on their way.
As of the time of writing, Route 1 is open from between the Markarfljót river and Vík on the South Coast.
Especially during the winter, travelers should consult road closures and the latest information on weather warnings at https://safetravel.is/.
