Authorities investigate false emergency call concerning two tourists in Kerlingarfjöll, South Iceland

Authorities in South Iceland are investigating a false emergency call concerning two tourists who were reportedly trapped in a cave in the Kerlingarfjöll region last week. There are currently no further details about the incident, which has raised alarms due to the potential legal consequences for deceiving police and rescue teams. According to criminal law, such actions can lead to fines or up to three months in prison.

The emergency alert was sent via the online chat feature of the emergency hotline. Local police are examining the origins of the call, and officials noted, “There are certain indications in the notification that we are looking into. There are no loose ends after this extensive search,” stated Sveinn Kristján Rúnarsson, chief of police in the South Iceland region.

The response to the false alarm involved nearly 200 rescue personnel who conducted a search for almost 24 hours. A similar incident occurred approximately twenty years ago, but Sveinn mentioned that typically, hoaxes can be identified quickly.

The police are urging anyone with information to contact them at 444-2000 or via email at [email protected].