Re: Johanna Sigurddottir Born: Sept. 21, 188
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In reply to:
Johanna Sigurddottir Born: Sept. 21, 188
2/06/99
Seyðisfjörður was devastated by an avalanche but that was in 1885 - February 18th. I don´t think there was another big avalanche in the area in the 1890s so maybe your grandmother was younger than you thought.
The avalanche came from Bjólfurinn, a 3000 feet high mountain above the village. It fell in the morning, when most people were still in their beds. It destroyed 14 houses and swept most of them into the sea. 85 people lived in the houses that were hit by the avalanche and 24 were killed - 8 children among them. Many more were severely hurt.
I think only 10 bodies were ever recovered; the others were swept into the sea and never found.
This is the information I have at hand but I can post more later.