Police in South Iceland have confirmed that the man who has been missing since he was seen falling into Gullfoss waterfall is an asylum seeker who came to Iceland as a refugee some while ago. According to a statement from the police the man was seen falling into the river upstream from the most popular viewing points of the waterfall. He was then seen in the river above the upper terrace of the waterfall, and then again between the two terraces. An extensive search has failed to turn up any clues as to his fate.
Initially it was believed the man might be a foreign visitor traveling alone, as no missing persons report had been filed and no locals had come forward with information about the missing man. However, the Police Chief Superintendent of South Iceland told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið that based on evidence gathered from a vehicle which was found abandoned at the visitor center parking lot, the man was probably not a foreign traveller, but someone living in Iceland.
The police is currently interviewing people connected to the owner of the car. Previous reports had indicated the owner of the vehicle is living abroad. Police has yet to say if the owner is missing, or whether they suspect someone else had been driving the car. The Police has now confirmed the man was a refugee who had sought asylum in Iceland.
According to the police the safety of visitors at Gullfoss is far greater today than it was only a couple of years ago. Walking paths around the waterfall have been roped off to ensure people do not go too close to the cliffs. Accidents at the waterfall are extremely rare.
Police in South Iceland have confirmed that the man who has been missing since he was seen falling into Gullfoss waterfall is an asylum seeker who came to Iceland as a refugee some while ago. According to a statement from the police the man was seen falling into the river upstream from the most popular viewing points of the waterfall. He was then seen in the river above the upper terrace of the waterfall, and then again between the two terraces. An extensive search has failed to turn up any clues as to his fate.
Initially it was believed the man might be a foreign visitor traveling alone, as no missing persons report had been filed and no locals had come forward with information about the missing man. However, the Police Chief Superintendent of South Iceland told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið that based on evidence gathered from a vehicle which was found abandoned at the visitor center parking lot, the man was probably not a foreign traveller, but someone living in Iceland.
The police is currently interviewing people connected to the owner of the car. Previous reports had indicated the owner of the vehicle is living abroad. Police has yet to say if the owner is missing, or whether they suspect someone else had been driving the car. The Police has now confirmed the man was a refugee who had sought asylum in Iceland.
According to the police the safety of visitors at Gullfoss is far greater today than it was only a couple of years ago. Walking paths around the waterfall have been roped off to ensure people do not go too close to the cliffs. Accidents at the waterfall are extremely rare.
