REYKJAVÍK, ICELAND – A foreign tourist tragically lost their life after an ice collapse occurred during a visit to the Breidamerkurjökull glacier in south Iceland, according to local media reports. The incident also left another tourist injured, who has since been hospitalized, though their life is not in danger. Meanwhile, two other tourists remain missing.
The group of 25 tourists, accompanied by a guide, was exploring an ice cave on Sunday when the collapse happened. Rescue teams, comprised of 200 emergency workers at one point, raced against time, working by hand to reach those missing. However, due to challenging conditions, the search was suspended and is set to resume on Monday morning.
Local police chief Sveinn Kristján Rúnarsson described the rescue efforts as “very difficult,” highlighting the challenging environment of the glacier that made it hard to bring in necessary equipment. Despite the tough terrain, Rúnarsson emphasized that ice cave tours are a common activity in the area, typically carried out by highly experienced guides. He expressed confidence in the guides’ ability to assess safety but acknowledged the inherent risks of operating in such dynamic environments.
The incident occurred near the Breidamerkurjökull glacial tongue, a popular destination known for its stunning ice caves, which attract tourists from around the world.
The Icelandic authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with plans to resume the search for the missing tourists as soon as conditions allow.