HELSINKI, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Icelandic authorities called off a rescue operation on Monday after confirming that no more people were trapped in a collapsed ice cave, according to local media reports.
Johann Hilmar Haraldsson, a police officer with the South Iceland Police and the field manager for the search for the tourists, said that the search had been stopped and that they were confident there were no more people under the ice, according to Icelandic radio station RUV.
The incident occurred on Sunday when an ice cave in Breidamerkurjokull, located in southeastern Iceland, collapsed while a group of tourists was visiting. Initially, the group was believed to consist of 25 people. When part of the cave gave way, two individuals were immediately rescued, though one was found deceased. Search efforts for the remaining two tourists continued into Monday.
However, it was later revealed that the initial report of 25 tourists was incorrect; only 23 people were actually part of the tour. This misestimation led authorities to mistakenly believe that two additional people were missing.
On Monday, police clarified that the total number of people in the group had been overestimated.
RUV also reported that the two people rescued on Sunday were a couple, both American citizens. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, while the woman sustained injuries and was transported to a hospital in Reykjavik.
The event has sparked a public debate in Iceland about the safety of such tours.
On Monday, professional guides voiced concerns to the media, calling for stricter regulations and better safety information for companies offering these tours. One guide suggested that tours should only be offered between December and March, rather than during the summer.
