Harpa hosts one of the world’s largest search and rescue conferences

About 1,000 people are attending the Björgun search and rescue conference, which opened today at Harpa, a conference venue, mbl.is reports. The event has drawn Icelandic and international specialists in search and rescue.

Nearly 60 speakers are scheduled to present. They include a former Ukrainian deputy interior minister, who will give the opening keynote on the introduction of a unified emergency call-answering system in Ukraine when the war began.

Conference chair Borghildur Fjóla Kristjánsdóttir of the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue said the event is an important opportunity for rescuers to share knowledge and experience. First held in 1990, the conference is taking place for the 18th time and is held every other year.

An exhibition of rescue vehicles and equipment is being held outside Harpa today and on Saturday. It is free and open to the public, while the conference itself is restricted to participants. The conference runs until midday on Sunday.