Tourist dies and another injured during ice cave tours at Breiðamerkurjökull in Iceland

At least two companies were operating ice cave tours at Breiðamerkurjökull on the same day that a tourist died and another was seriously injured. According to tour guide Rögnvaldur Finnbogason, it is not unusual for around 200 people to visit the cave daily. He reported that multiple companies were active on that fateful day, which saw an American man struck by falling ice, resulting in his death, while his wife sustained serious injuries.

Rögnvaldur noted significant changes in the cave’s structure as he assisted in the rescue efforts. He emphasized that while accidents in ice caves are rare, awareness of conditions is crucial, especially during summer months when glacier changes are more pronounced.

He explained that precautions similar to those taken for driving in winter conditions are necessary to ensure safety. Despite this, Rögnvaldur remarked that ice caves can be risky in summer due to rapidly changing conditions, which can turn previously safe settings into dangerous ones. It is vital to reassess safety regularly, ideally every few days.

On the day of the incident, Rögnvaldur observed that at least two companies had groups in the cave, with about ten people in each group. He estimated that nearly 200 tourists have been entering the cave daily over the past two months.

He pointed out that oversight of these companies is minimal, as regulations are mostly internal and vary by provider. Although companies are required to submit safety plans, Rögnvaldur has not personally seen these plans being shared with guides, questioning the effectiveness of regulatory compliance.