A tragic incident occurred during an organized tour of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier in southern Iceland, resulting in the death of one tourist and leaving two others missing, authorities said.
The collapse of an ice cave wall, which happened during the tour on Sunday, led to this devastating event.
The tour, consisting of 25 individuals, was exploring the glacier located approximately 170 miles from Reykjavik when the accident took place.
Emergency services were promptly alerted after the ice wall inside the cave gave way.
While one tourist was confirmed dead at the scene, a fourth person was transported by air ambulance to a hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
The identities and nationalities of those affected remain undisclosed as authorities continue their investigation.
A search operation has been launched to locate the two missing tourists believed to be trapped under the ice.
However, the search efforts were paused on Sunday night due to the absence of daylight and the perilous conditions at the site.
According to police in southern Iceland, “A group of 25 foreign tourists of several nationalities were exploring the ice cave when the accident happened.”
Around 200 emergency workers are currently involved in the rescue mission. The challenging conditions have forced the team to halt operations until daylight returns, with plans to resume the search in the morning.
The region, known for its stunning landscapes and volcanic features, is part of Vatnajökull National Park. Breiðamerkurjökull, a section of this larger glacier, famously served as a backdrop in the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.
This incident follows a recent warning from the Foreign Office to British tourists about potential risks in Iceland.
The government had advised travelers to “stay vigilant” due to a series of volcanic eruptions that have occurred in the region in recent weeks.
