Once again, tourists were in danger on Reynisfjara beach, South Iceland, on Saturday, when six of them were caught by a large wave, RÚV reports. An elderly man fell as the wave caught him.
Magnús Jóhannson, who operates the tour company Mudshark, described it this way, “It happened so quickly. The people had positioned themselves on the beach with a tripod and everyone was taking pictures. Then, just a couple of seconds later, a large wave comes and rolls over the group.” He added, “People just go closer and closer, no matter what the guides say. Then it just happens so quickly. All off a sudden, a wave reaches far ashore.” He caught pictures of the incident. Magnús said tightening the rules regarding access is long overdue.
Photo: Magnús Jóhannsson.
Chief Superintendent Sveinn Kristján Rúnarsson, South Iceland Police, says we must react and put a safety watch in place. He’d like to see a lifeguard on the beach, he told RÚV.
Sveinn said several things have already been done to improve safety, such as putting up larger warning signs, but that, he said, doesn’t keep people from playing on the beach and putting themselves in danger. He stressed the importance of keeping watch, “We can’t just bury our head in the sand and hope things turn out well.”
