1 dead, 2 trapped after ice wall collapses in Iceland

Aug. 25 (UPI) -- One person is dead and two others remain trapped after an ice wall collapsed during a guided group tour of an Icelandic glacier, authorities said.

First responders received an emergency call shortly before 3 p.m. local time Sunday concerning the collapse at Breiðamerkurjökull, a glacier in Vatnajökull National Park, Lögregla á Suðurlandi, the local police authority, said in a statement on Facebook.

A group of 25 people of various nationalities were on the guided tour of the glacier when the collapse occurred, resulting in four being hit by falling ice. Two people were rescued but were seriously injured, according to police, which said one was later pronounced dead at the scene while the other was airlifted by the Icelandic Coast Guard to the hospital.

A search involving "a large number of rescue workers and first responders" was then launched for the two people believed to be trapped under ice but was later halted when night fell, the authorities said in an update on the operation.

"It is not considered safe to continue the search tonight due to the dangers at the scene," Lögregla á Suðurlandi said, adding that the search will resume "at first light" Monday morning.

The U.S. Geological Survey describes Breiðamerkurjökull as an outlet glacier that is among the largest in Iceland.