Severe weather

“The situation is now improving. It appears that Holtavörðuheiði and the road to Blönduós have been reopened, and people have begun leaving the emergency shelters,” said Pétur Björnsson, chief superintendent with the police in Northwest Iceland, in an interview with mbl.is.
Yesterday, a bus went off the road on Holtavörðuheiði, after which the road was closed between the turnoffs to Hvammstangi and Víðigerði, while efforts were made to free vehicles that had become stuck. The national highway was then closed from Blönduós south across Holtavörðuheiði, and the Red Cross opened two emergency relief centers. One was set up at the Sports Center in Blönduós, and the other at Reykjaskóli in Hrútafjörður.
Björnsson said that at most 192 travelers were sheltered at the Blönduós center and 156 at Reykjaskóli in Hrútafjörður. Police are now working to close the centers and conclude operations once everyone who sought shelter there has been able to continue on their way.

About 100 stayed at a hotel
Asked about the current weather conditions, the chief superintendent said they are now tolerable.
“This is completely different from yesterday,” he said.
In addition to those who went to the emergency centers, Björnsson said around 100 people stayed at Hotel Laugabakki, while several dozen others stayed at the guesthouse in Hvammstangi and other accommodations along the route. He estimates that around 500 people in total waited out the storm when everything is counted.
“Now people just need to drive carefully. There is a lot of ice on the roads, and there will be heavy traffic, so we ask people to be patient and proceed with caution,” Pétur Björnsson said in closing.