At least one person has died, and two others are missing after an ice cave collapsed while tourists were visiting the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier in southern Iceland . The incident occurred shortly before 3 p.m.
on Sunday when a group of about 25 foreign tourists from various nationalities were exploring the ice caves. Local police stated that four people were hit by ice during the collapse. Two of them were seriously injured, with one succumbing to their injuries at the scene.
The other injured individual was airlifted to a hospital in the capital and is reportedly in stable condition. Rescue operations began immediately, with a large number of rescuers working throughout the afternoon and into the evening. Efforts to search for the two missing people were paused after dark due to dangerous conditions but are set to resume in the morning.
Icelandic public broadcaster RUV reported that transporting equipment and personnel to the glacier proved difficult due to the rugged terrain. Cutting through the ice was mostly done manually using chainsaws. Local news site Visir reported that the group was on an organized ice cave tour accompanied by a guide.
Most of the tourists were outside the cave when it collapsed. "First responders received a call shortly before 3 p.m.
as a group of about 25 foreign tourists from several nationalities were exploring ice caves when four people were hit by ice," local police said in a statement on social media. The ice cave is a popular destination for tourists, attracting many who wish to explore its natural beauty. The search for the missing individuals continues as authorities reassess the situation and plan further rescue efforts at daylight.
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