ICE-SAR companies from the villages of Hella and Hvolsvöllur in South Iceland received a distress call shortly after noon today. A car had plunged through ice into Fiská river near Vatnsdalur farm. Nobody was hurt. It appears the people had been driving their car along the frozen river when the ice gave way, causing the car to sink into the water.
Managed to climb on the roof of the car
When rescuers arrived at the scene the people had made it out of the car and climbed on top of the roof. The nationality of the people has not been released, and it is not clear what the group was doing when the accident took place. The people were driving a Ford Econoliner truck.
Fiská river runs from the Central Highlands to South Iceland. The accident took place east of Vatnsdalur farm, where a dirt trail which leads into the lava fields in the foothills of Mount Hekla, one of the most active volcanoes in Iceland. Most of the area is a volcanic wasteland. The crossing is unbridged.
Accident at 12:51
According to the Police in South Iceland the initial distress call indicated that a serious accident had taken place. Many rivers have swollen due to heavy rain and snowmelt. ICE-SAR companies from the villages of Hella and Hvolsvöllur, as well as the town of Selfoss were therefore dispatched to the site. The Coast Guard therefore sent a rescue helicopter to the scene, in case it was necessary to evacuate people by air to Reykjavík.
Fortunately the accident was not as serious as initially feared.
Don't drive on ice, don't drive off-road
We at Iceland Insider would like to urge people not to drive on ice while in Iceland, and to stay on the road. The shifting weather means that although rivers and lakes freeze over the ice can be treacherous and in most cases not strong enough to carry automobiles. It is also illegal to drive off-road in Iceland. This applies whether or not the ground is covered with snow. Driving along riverbeds is also considered off-road driving.
Besides being illegal it is extremely foolish to drive along riverbeds as it is probably the surest way to get your car stuck and to flood the car. Rental car insurance in Iceland does not cover water damages.
ICE-SAR companies from the villages of Hella and Hvolsvöllur in South Iceland received a distress call shortly after noon today. A car had plunged through ice into Fiská river near Vatnsdalur farm. Nobody was hurt. It appears the people had been driving their car along the frozen river when the ice gave way, causing the car to sink into the water.
Managed to climb on the roof of the car
When rescuers arrived at the scene the people had made it out of the car and climbed on top of the roof. The nationality of the people has not been released, and it is not clear what the group was doing when the accident took place. The people were driving a Ford Econoliner truck.
Fiská river runs from the Central Highlands to South Iceland. The accident took place east of Vatnsdalur farm, where a dirt trail which leads into the lava fields in the foothills of Mount Hekla, one of the most active volcanoes in Iceland. Most of the area is a volcanic wasteland. The crossing is unbridged.
Accident at 12:51
According to the Police in South Iceland the initial distress call indicated that a serious accident had taken place. Many rivers have swollen due to heavy rain and snowmelt. ICE-SAR companies from the villages of Hella and Hvolsvöllur, as well as the town of Selfoss were therefore dispatched to the site. The Coast Guard therefore sent a rescue helicopter to the scene, in case it was necessary to evacuate people by air to Reykjavík.
Fortunately the accident was not as serious as initially feared.
Don't drive on ice, don't drive off-road
We at Iceland Insider would like to urge people not to drive on ice while in Iceland, and to stay on the road. The shifting weather means that although rivers and lakes freeze over the ice can be treacherous and in most cases not strong enough to carry automobiles. It is also illegal to drive off-road in Iceland. This applies whether or not the ground is covered with snow. Driving along riverbeds is also considered off-road driving.
Besides being illegal it is extremely foolish to drive along riverbeds as it is probably the surest way to get your car stuck and to flood the car. Rental car insurance in Iceland does not cover water damages.
