General

DEVELOPING: Traveller swept to sea at Reynisfjara beach, S. Iceland: Massive search and rescue operation underway

By Staff

Reynisfjara Beach South Iceland One of the most dangerous tourist destination in Iceland. Travellers have on numerous occasions narrowly escaped being swept to sea at the beach. Photo/Haukur Snorrason

All available first responders in South Iceland, Police as well as members of Search and Rescue units, have been dispatched to Reynisfjara beach, west of the town Vík, to participate in the search for a traveller who was swept to sea at the beach. Police in Vík tells the local news site Vísir that the Coast Guard has also dispatched its helicopter to the scene.

Police received a report that a man had been swept to sea at 13:00.

UPDATED at 13:52 ICE-SAR has released further information on the search to the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service. The traveller was a woman in her forties. The accident took place in Reynisfjara beach, more precisely at Kirkjufjara, near Dyrhóley peninsula. All available search and rescue units are on their way, including boats from the Vestmannaeyjar islands which are off the south coast of Iceland.

UPDATED: at 15:17 The woman has been found, and is being airlifted to Reykjavík. Police has yet to confirm her condition. She was travelling with her family, husband and two children. All were knocked down by the waves, but all managed to get to safety, except the woman.

Read more: Traveller swept to sea at Reynisfjara beach found: 47 year old German woman airlifted to Reykjavík

UPDATED: at 16:29 A toddler was narrowly rescued just minutes before the German woman was swept to sea. A video shot at Reynisfjara between 12:30 and 13:00 shows the conditions: Hard crashing waves.

Read more: A toddler was narrowly rescued at Reynisfjara beach today. A German woman swept to sea

UPDATED: at 19:18 The woman has been pronounced dead, Police in South Iceland reports.

Read more: Woman swept to sea at Reynisfjara beach earlier today has been pronounced dead

One of the most dangerous tourist destinations in Iceland

The black sand of Reynisfjara beach is not only one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland, it is also one of the most dangerous.

Kirkjufjara beach, where today's accident took place, is at the west end of Reynisfjara beach, by Dyrhólaey peninsula. The east end of the beach, near the Reynisdrangar stacks, has been the site of countless close-calls where travellers have narrowly escaped being swept to the sea. In February of 2016 a Chinese traveller drowned after he was swept to the sea at the east end of the beach.

The powerful waves at Reynisfjara can be unpredictable, thus lulling unsuspecting travellers into a false sense of safety. However, police has also worried that some travellers have behaved irresponsibly at the beach.

Read more: Photos: Visitors continue to ignore warnings not to venture too close to the shoreline at Reynisfjara beach