Man killed and woman severely injured in ice cave collapse

26 August 2024, 02:27 | Updated: 26 August 2024, 17:53

A man has been killed and a woman was seriously injured after an ice cave collapsed in Iceland.

Rescuers had been attempting to free two tourists believed to still be trapped in the cave but police called off the search, saying they now think nobody is missing.

The man and woman are believed to have been a couple and were both from the US, police said.

The cave is in the Breidamerkurjokull glacier, 200 miles (320 km) east of capital Reykjavik.

South Iceland police said in a statement on Monday that the search was launched after it was believed 25 people had been travelling on Breidamerkurjokull when the cave collapsed.

However, after the removal of all the fallen ice, police said it became clear there had been a miscount of tourists and only 23 people had taken part in the trip.

The first rescue operation saw around 200 people involved, police said. It was suspended overnight "due to the danger of the scene", but rescuers continued to break down huge amounts the next day, mostly by hand.

"A large number of rescuers and responders have taken part in the operation," police said.

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The man who died was pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman who was seriously injured was taken by helicopter to hospital. Her condition is said to be stable.

Police thanked tour operators in the area who assisted the search and rescue operation with accommodation and food over the past 24 hours.

The force said it would continue to investigate the circumstances of the accident.

(c) Sky News 2024: Man killed and woman severely injured in ice cave collapse