A tourist has died and two others are missing after an ice cave partially collapsed while a group was visiting the Breidamerkurjokull glacier on Sunday.
The group, composed of approximately 25 foreign tourists from various nationalities, was exploring ice caves with a guide shortly before 3 p.m. when four people were struck by falling ice, according to a statement shared on social media.
One tourist succumbed to their injuries, while another sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to a hospital in the capital, officials stated.
Around 200 rescuers commenced a tireless search for the two missing individuals. However, the mission was temporarily halted after nightfall due to “difficult” conditions, as described by local police, according to local news outlets. The search is expected to resume on Monday morning.
Rescuers have had to manually cut through the ice using chain saws, as the terrain proved challenging for transporting additional equipment and personnel, reported Icelandic public broadcaster RUV.
Chief Superintendent Sveinn Kristján Rúnarsson of the local police told Icelandic TV that there was no evidence to suggest that the guided cave tour should not have taken place, as reported by .
“These are experienced and skilled mountain guides who conduct these expeditions,” Rúnarsson stated. “It’s always a possibility to face misfortune. I trust these individuals to assess the situation, determining whether it’s safe or not to proceed. They have consistently performed good work over time. This is a dynamic environment, so anything can transpire.”
The collapse was likely unrelated to an earthquake that occurred in southeast Iceland on Friday, which was approximately 185 miles away from the glacier.