Iceland cave collapse shows ‘incredibly’ dangerous risk of summer visits

A deadly ice cave collapse in Iceland has raised safety concerns and prompted calls for stricter rules for tourist expeditions that can be especially dangerous in the summer.

An American tourist died after an ice cave collapsed at the Breidamerkurjokull glacier in southeastern Iceland on Sunday. Another woman, also from the United States, was injured in the collapse.

Global Affairs Canada said it has no reports of any Canadian citizens being affected in the collapse.

“We are in contact with local authorities and stand ready to provide consular assistance to Canadian/Australian citizens if needed,” GAC spokesperson Kevin Sweet, told Global News in an email on Tuesday.

A large-scale search and rescue operation was called off on Monday after police determined that all 23 people on the ice cave tour were accounted for.

Einar Sigurdsson, who was among the first responders, said given the amount of ice that fell in the collapse it was a “big blessing” that only two people were struck.

The collapse happened in an ice canyon in one of the largest glaciers in Iceland.

The Association of Icelandic Mountain Guides called for a full investigation and tighter regulations on ice cave tours. Glacier trips during the warmer summer months can be very dangerous, the association said.

M Jackson, a glaciologist, said the accident was a “completely avoidable tragedy” and should be a “wake up call” for the country.

“The idea that companies are bringing tourists to this glacier in the summer to see ice caves is incredibly risky and dangerous,” Jackson told Global News in an interview.

Ice caves are holes and channels that go through the glacier, which become unstable in the summer, she said.

“Glaciers inherently are dangerous, and they’re only going to