Monday, August 26, 2024 Exploring ice caves in Iceland, particularly in the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, is an awe-inspiring experience that attracts many tourists each year. However, the beauty of these natural wonders comes with inherent risks, as a recent tragic incident has highlighted. An ice cave partially collapsed while a group of about 25 foreign tourists was visiting the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier in southern Iceland.
This accident resulted in the death of one individual and left two others missing, with rescue operations proving difficult due to the challenging conditions. Local authorities reported that the incident occurred shortly before 3 p.m.
on Sunday. As the group, which consisted of tourists from various nationalities, was exploring the ice caves, four individuals were struck by falling ice. Unfortunately, one person succumbed to their injuries at the scene, while another was airlifted to a hospital in the capital, where they were reported to be in stable condition.
The search for the two missing tourists continued throughout the afternoon and into the evening, but the operation had to be paused after dark due to the dangerous conditions. Efforts to transport equipment and personnel to the glacier were hampered by the rugged terrain, and much of the ice cutting was done manually using chainsaws. The group was on an organized ice cave tour and was accompanied by a guide.
According to local news site Visir, most of the group members were outside the cave.