Updated: Rescue efforts intensify as two tourists remain missing after Iceland ice cave collapse

Update 19:15: Police investigation revealed that the two missing tourists had not been trapped under the ice and were found safe and sound. The person who lost their life was an American citizen.

Rescue operations are ongoing in Iceland after an ice cave collapse at Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier in the south of Iceland on Sunday afternoon. The incident, which occurred during an organized tour, resulted in the death of one tourist, while another was seriously injured and has since been hospitalized.

Rescuers are currently searching for two tourists who remain missing. The challenging terrain and safety concerns forced authorities to temporarily pause the search at night, but operations resumed with the first light on Monday. The missing individuals were part of a group of about 25 people, most of whom were outside the cave when it partially collapsed.

Rescue teams are working under difficult conditions, and the efforts to locate the missing tourists are continuing as quickly as possible.

Speaking to national broadcaster RÚV, Chief Superintendent for the Suðurland police district Sveinn Rúnar Kristjánsson said that three rescue teams were operating on a rotating schedule.

“Each team works for an hour, doing digging and breaking down the ice,” Kristjánsson said. “Meanwhile we are conducting investigations and trying to figure out who are stuck below the ice.”