Tragic Ice Cave Collapse in Iceland Leaves One Dead, Another Injured

One U.S tourist has died and another seriously injured in Iceland when part of an ice cave collapsed.

Icelandic police said on Monday that a tour group of “several nationalities” were involved in the incident.

American Couple Involved in Incident

In the southeast of Iceland, the glacier Breidamerkurjokull collapsed on a group of 23 people and a guide who were part of an organized tour.

An American couple were hit by the collapsing ice.

Ice Cave Fatality and Injury

Police for the Sudurland region said that the American man was killed in the incident and the American woman was injured and transported to a regional hospital by helicopter.

Police said the injuries of the woman were not life-threatening and she is in a stable condition.

Relief As No More Involved in the Collapse

Initial miscommunication led to fears that two others were trapped within the ice cave.

However, police have called off the search after extensively searching the area and confirming the accurate number of individuals on the tour.

Rescue Services Told False Information

Early in the search operation a misunderstanding led rescue services to believe that the group consisted of 25 people, not the accurate 23 people.

Police were called off after an extensive search for any extra individuals trapped under the ice.

Europe’s Largest Glacier

Breidamerkurjokull sits in the southern part of Iceland, and is part of Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökul.

Vatnajökul covers an area of more than 3,000 miles and at its thickest point, Vatnajökul is approximately 3,000 feet deep.  Breidamerkurjokull also sits near the glacial lagoon Jokulsarlon, one of Iceland’s most popular tourist destinations.

Iceland - Land of Ice and Fire

Iceland is called the land of ice and fire because of its rugged terrain encompassing both icy glaciers and explosive volcanoes.

The country is home to multiple active volcanoes which cause disruption when they erupt; including toxic gas, ash and lava.

Increasing Volcanic Activity

A series of volcanic activity has plagued the south of Iceland, the latest of which occurred this month.

The most active area is along the Reykjanes peninsula, with the town of Grindavik being evacuated due to recent activity.

UK Travellers Warned to Stay Away

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its guidance on travel to the country, telling UK holidaymakers to stay away.

It warned travelers that more eruptions were ‘likely’ and to follow advice from local media.

Warning to Travellers Visiting Iceland

According to the Foreign Office, Keflavik International Airport is still operating as normal as it reassures travelers that volcanic activity is closely monitored.

The FCDO has warned that even with robust infrastructure to monitor activity, “not all events can be anticipated.”  They say travel plans can still be disrupted due to: poisonous volcanic gasses, rock falls and landslides, sudden and large flooding.