Visitors encounter cave collapse within icy structure
The Breiðamerkurjökull ice sheet, a prevalent tourist attraction in Iceland, saw an unfortunate incident involving an ice cave collapse. The collapse left twenty-five individuals, engaged in exploring the cavern, in distress. Two individuals sustained injuries, while another two are currently unaccounted for.
Authorities and rescue teams, including specialized cave rescue personnel and two helicopters, were promptly dispatched to the scene, reported broadcaster RÚV. The authorities’ representative disclosed the difficulties encountered while conducting operations on the glacier. A tourist, who had visited the cave not long before the incident, shared their account with RÚV, stating that the cave's depth was around 3 to 5 meters.
The Breiðamerkurjökull ice sheet, situated to the southeast of the Atlantic island, serves as an outlet of the Vatnajökull glacier. This glacier contributes to the famous glacier lagoon, Jökulsárlón. Floaters of icebergs are common in the lagoon, making it one of Iceland's most significant tourist attractions. Hollywood blockbusters like "James Bond" and "Tomb Raider" starring Angelina Jolie have utilized this captivating location for their filming. The region offers numerous hiking tours through ice caves.
Tourists frequently visit the Breiðamerkurjökull ice sheet, attracted by its stunning glacier lagoon, Jökulsárlón. Due to the incident, many tourists are now expressing concern about the safety of exploring ice caves in the area.
