Cavern collapse in Iceland claims life of visitor, as emergency services seek out two reported missing individuals.
Regrettably, one individual has perished, and two others are still unaccounted for following a partial collapse of an ice cave during a tour at the Breidamerkurjokull glacier in southern Iceland.
Word came in via social media posts by local authorities, detailing how emergency services were alerted at approximately 15:00 hrs on a Sunday, as a party of around 25 international tourists from various nations were delving into ice caves. Four individuals found themselves ensnared by falling ice.
Two victims sustained severe injuries, with one sadly succumbing to their wounds at the accident site. The second, reportedly in a stable condition, was evacuated by air support to a hospital in the capital.
Numerous rescue teams were dispatched throughout the afternoon and into the night, scouring the area for the absent parties. Their efforts were halted post-sunset due to treacherous conditions, though they've assured resumption at sunrise.
Icelandic radio broadcaster RUV announced challenges in getting equipment and personnel to the glacier, crediting the rough terrain and the manual effort required to cut through the ice, largely aided by chain saws.
Local news site Visir reported that the group had partaken in an organized ice cave tour, with a guide leading them. However, most of the participants happened to be outside when the cave gave away. Its appeal to tourists is widely recognized.
Experts speculate that the collapse was unlikely to have been due to the volcanic eruption happening approximately 300 kilometers (185 miles) away in southeast Iceland on Friday.
The incident at the Breidamerkurjokull glacier has drawn global concern, with news of the accident spreading across Europe and the world. Despite the efforts of numerous international rescue teams, two tourists remain missing, adding to the international scrutiny.
