Yesterday noon ICE-SAR companies from villages in South Iceland rescued a group of travellers from the roof of a mountain truck after the vehicle had sunk into Fiská river in the foothills of Mt Hekla. The local newspaper Morgunblaðið reports that the driver of the truck was an experienced driver guide and the vehicle was equipped for the worst Iceland can throw at travellers at this time of year. However, a wealth of experience and a fully equipped super-jeep were no match for the constantly shifting character of the elements and Icelandic nature.
Read more: Five people rescued after a car plunges through ice into river near mount Hekla
The accident took place around noon yesterday. A large Ford Econoliner truck which has been modified for mountain travel sank into Fiská river in the lavafields of Mt Hekla on the edge of the Central Highlands. Five people were in the truck, and all managed to get on top of the vehicle's roof before they were rescued. The vehicle was almost completely submerged when the rescuers arrived. Nobody was hurt.
The accident took place in an area with very limited cellphone coverage. The people were driving along a dirt path which crosses the river at an unbridged crossing. Very few rivers in the Central Highlands are bridged, leaving most river crossings unbridged. The vehicle the people were driving was equipped for winter travel in the highlands, and the driver was very experienced.
River had shifted, swollen
According to initial reports it was believed the car had plunged through ice on the river, but it now appears the car had been driving along the riverbed. The river has swollen considerably due to heavy rains and snowmelt in recent days. As the river has swollen it has shifted. The driver therefore didn't judge the conditions correctly, and was caught by surprise when he drove into a large pit, causing the vehicle's engine to flood.
After the vehicle had stalled in the water it continued to sink. It took 20 members of ICE-SAR companies from the villages of Hella and Hvolsvöllur in South Iceland, and a Unimog truck to pull the submerged vehicle out of the river. The four travellers and local guide were taken to the nearest town.
Lessons to be learned
This story should serve as a reminder that even the most experienced drivers, operating specially equipped vehicles can be taken by surprise when crossing rivers in Iceland. Unexperienced drivers, on passenger vehicles should not attempt to cross rivers, and you should never, ever, drive along the river's bed. Rental car insurance in Iceland does not cover water damage.
Yesterday noon ICE-SAR companies from villages in South Iceland rescued a group of travellers from the roof of a mountain truck after the vehicle had sunk into Fiská river in the foothills of Mt Hekla. The local newspaper Morgunblaðið reports that the driver of the truck was an experienced driver guide and the vehicle was equipped for the worst Iceland can throw at travellers at this time of year. However, a wealth of experience and a fully equipped super-jeep were no match for the constantly shifting character of the elements and Icelandic nature.
Read more: Five people rescued after a car plunges through ice into river near mount Hekla
The accident took place around noon yesterday. A large Ford Econoliner truck which has been modified for mountain travel sank into Fiská river in the lavafields of Mt Hekla on the edge of the Central Highlands. Five people were in the truck, and all managed to get on top of the vehicle's roof before they were rescued. The vehicle was almost completely submerged when the rescuers arrived. Nobody was hurt.
The accident took place in an area with very limited cellphone coverage. The people were driving along a dirt path which crosses the river at an unbridged crossing. Very few rivers in the Central Highlands are bridged, leaving most river crossings unbridged. The vehicle the people were driving was equipped for winter travel in the highlands, and the driver was very experienced.
River had shifted, swollen
According to initial reports it was believed the car had plunged through ice on the river, but it now appears the car had been driving along the riverbed. The river has swollen considerably due to heavy rains and snowmelt in recent days. As the river has swollen it has shifted. The driver therefore didn't judge the conditions correctly, and was caught by surprise when he drove into a large pit, causing the vehicle's engine to flood.
After the vehicle had stalled in the water it continued to sink. It took 20 members of ICE-SAR companies from the villages of Hella and Hvolsvöllur in South Iceland, and a Unimog truck to pull the submerged vehicle out of the river. The four travellers and local guide were taken to the nearest town.
Lessons to be learned
This story should serve as a reminder that even the most experienced drivers, operating specially equipped vehicles can be taken by surprise when crossing rivers in Iceland. Unexperienced drivers, on passenger vehicles should not attempt to cross rivers, and you should never, ever, drive along the river's bed. Rental car insurance in Iceland does not cover water damage.
