No amount of signage or posted warnings seem to be able to convince tourists on Reynisfjara beach to stay well clear of its dangerous and powerful waves. An Instagram video posted five days ago by American photographer Erica Mengouchian shows dozens of tourists getting swept off their feet by a wave on the shore, while others – including the photographer herself – rush to get out of the reach of the surf.
“WAIT FOR IT…” reads the video caption. “[I]nsane waves/weather! This place is no joke and these people don’t pay attention to the warning signs…Thankfully everyone got back up safely and they are ok.”
Reynisfjara beach, notorious for its “sneaker waves,” has been the site of numerous accidents over the years – some of them even fatal. An American woman died in May 2007 when caught by a wave, and a Chinese man lost his life when he was swept out to sea in February 2016. There have been many close calls besides, as tourists often disbelieve or choose to ignore the posted signage which states, among other things, “Very Dangerous Sea Currents,” “Deadly Sneaker Waves,” and “Never Turn Your Back On the Ocean.”
See Erica’s video on Instagram.
