66/23 North West
Nord Vestur
The story of one of the biggest rescue operations Iceland has seen after a huge avalanche hit the small fishing village of Flateyri on 26 October 1995. For five hours before outside help came, locals searched for and rescued neighbours, friends and relatives. With storms and new avalanches threatening, rescue teams, helicopters and ships hurried to Flateyri. 1995 is remembered as the most costly year in terms of human lives in the local history of natural disasters. This story is told by rescuers, media people, the former president of Iceland, and survivors, some who were buried under snow for nine hours.