Residents in East Skaftafell demand safety reforms following fatal glacier tour accident at Breiðamerkurjökull

Residents of East Skaftafell are voicing strong opposition to summer glacier tours, citing safety concerns following a fatal accident at Breiðamerkurjökull. Local tourism companies have long resisted such tours, and the East Skaftafell Tourism Association has called for a thorough investigation into the responsibilities of all parties involved, particularly government entities.

During a meeting held today in Höfn, around fifty local stakeholders gathered to discuss the aftermath of the incident. The group emphasized the urgent need to evaluate how tours are managed in the region, arguing that increased oversight could have prevented the recent tragedy. They noted that the summer glacier tours present an inherent risk, akin to playing Russian roulette.

Local leaders expressed frustration over their concerns being largely ignored by authorities since 2017, when they first advocated for a fee structure to ensure better regulation of companies operating in national parks. They believe that had their voices been sufficiently heard earlier, enhanced monitoring could have circumvented this incident.

Furthermore, four government ministries initiated an inquiry into the matter last week. The locals are keen for formal involvement in this investigation, expressing a lack of trust in the government due to previous inaction on safety recommendations.

Overall, a re-evaluation of tourism practices and safety regulations in East Skaftafell is being demanded, highlighting the need for accountability and better frameworks to manage tourist activities in sensitive natural environments.