A group of around 25 foreign tourists from multiple nationalities was exploring the ice caves of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier in southern Iceland when part of the cave collapsed. The incident, which occurred on Sunday afternoon, resulted in the death of one tourist, with two others still missing. Four individuals were initially trapped by the collapse; two were rescued, with one succumbing to their injuries at the scene, while the other was airlifted to a hospital in Reykjavik and remains in stable condition(
Rescue operations, involving approximately 150 responders and two coast guard helicopters, have been ongoing despite hazardous conditions, with efforts to reach the missing individuals proving challenging due to the difficult terrain. The search was paused overnight but resumed the following morning. The Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, part of the larger Vatnajökull National Park, is a popular destination for tourists visiting Iceland(
Authorities have stated that the collapse is unlikely to be connected to the recent volcanic eruption in southeast Iceland, which occurred roughly 300 kilometers away. The ice cave tour was organized, and the group was accompanied by a guide, though most tourists were reportedly outside the cave when the collapse happened.
