In the unfortunate incident, a minimum of one life was lost due to an ice cave collapse in Iceland.
At the popular tourist spot of Breidamerkurjökull Glacier in Iceland, tragedy struck as an ice cave collapsed, resulting in at least one fatal casualty. Another visitor was critically injured and airlifted to a hospital in Reykjavik, where they are now stable.
The Icelandic police announced this information on their Facebook page, adding that two more individuals remain unaccounted for following the incident on Breidamerkurjökull glacier. The search for the missing parties was halted due to challenging conditions on the ground and the arrival of nightfall, with resumption scheduled for dawn. These individuals were part of a group of 25 tourists exploring the ice cave within Breidamerkurjökull.
Over 100 rescue personnel, including professional cavern searchers, along with helicopters, participated in the operation, according to RÚV. Officials stated that the circumstances on the glacier were particularly harsh.
A high-ranking police officer informed RÚV that the rescuers were not capable of deploying heavy rescue equipment onto the glacier and thus had to conduct a thorough search by hand. As of now, there's been no communication with the trapped individuals.
The critically injured tourist was transported to a hospital in Reykjavik, with three helicopters on standby for potential additional injuries. A tourist who visited the cave shortly before the collapse, only to learn about the incident later at their hotel, stated that the cave was less than 10 meters deep.
Breidamerkurjökull, positioned in the southeast of the Atlantic island, is an offshoot of Vatnajökull, the massive glacier situated at the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón. This lake, adorned with floating icebergs, is one of Iceland's most visited tourist attractions and has served as the backdrop for well-known Hollywood films like "James Bond" and "Tomb Raider" starring Angelina Jolie. Countless ice cave hiking tours are available in the area.
The search for the two missing tourists is ongoing on Breidamerkurjökull glacier, given the challenging conditions and the arrival of nightfall. Despite the efforts of over 100 rescue personnel, there's been no communication with the trapped individuals, as they were exploring a less than 10-meter deep ice cave within the glacier.
The harsh circumstances on the glacier have made it difficult for rescuers to deploy heavy equipment and necessitate a thorough hand search, relying on three helicopters on standby for potential additional injuries.
