The Meteorological Office says that at a building site in Keflavík there is a flood area where storm surges have previously caused damage. Rising sea levels also need to be considered, not least because of land subsidence on the Reykjanes peninsula.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office has warned of flood risk at a building site in Reykjanesbær where a residential block of up to 58 apartments is planned. Storm surges have caused damage on the same street where the building is to be constructed. This is reported on the Víkurfréttir website.
The architecture firm JeES arkitektar submitted a proposal for an amendment to the local plan providing for the construction of an apartment building with nearly sixty flats at Hafnargata 12.
In the Meteorological Office’s opinion it is stated that near the building site is a flood area where storm surges have caused damage to car parks and roads.
Their memorandum points to a coastal flood during a storm in February 2020, when the area in question was flooded.
Waves broke over a defence wall, rocks and debris were washed inland and far across the street.
Water flowed over parking lots to houses on Hafnargata and into basements. A waiter at the restaurant Rán is quoted as saying the water reached up to his mid-calf.
In the response of the environment and planning committee of Reykjanesbær it is stated that the seawall needs to be improved, and possibly also the drainage system reinforced.
The proposal was on the committee’s table at the beginning of the month and the matter was postponed.
Greater rise in sea levels as land sinks on Reykjanes
The Meteorological Office also says that according to the estimate of the Scientific Committee on Climate Change, sea levels by the capital area could rise by 41-59 cm over the next 75 years.
These figures will increase when considering Reykjanes, because of the possibility of significant land subsidence there.
Source: Ruv.is
