Iceland: Ice cave partially collapses, one tourist dies

Police on Monday said at least one person died and two others went missing after an ice cave partially collapsed when tourists were visiting Breidamerkurjokull glacier in Iceland.

Police said a group of 25 tourists were visiting the spot when the mishap occurred.

“Responders in the South have today and tonight searched for two people who are thought to have fallen under ice earlier today when an iceberg collapsed from an iceberg on Brei þegaramerkur Glacier,” police posted on Facebook.

Police further said: “A large number of rescuers and responders have participated in the operation. Conditions during the search are difficult and darkness is now upon us. It is not considered defensive due to the danger at the scene to continue the search tonight. The search has therefore been postponed and will be resumed in publication tomorrow morning.”

“It was reported earlier tonight that two people who were hit by the ice slide were seriously injured. One of them was pronounced dead on the scene but the other was transported by an LHG helicopter to the Landspitalinn and his condition is stable,” the statement said.

Police are currently investigating the incident.

Breidamerkurjokull is an outlet glacier of the larger glacier of Vatnajökull and a piedmont glacier in the southern part of Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland.

Emerging as a tongue of the Vatnajökull, it ends in two lagoons, famous Jökulsárlón and the smaller and less known Breiðárlón. Over time, it has gradually been breaking down.