Safety matters are being reviewed in the town of Djúpivogur, Southeast Iceland, after the death of a foreign tourist there yesterday, RÚV reports. The man was in his sixties and was on a walk with relatives when he was run over by a construction vehicle. A priest attended to witnesses and the man’s relatives received trauma assistance from the Red Cross at Egilsstaðir, East Iceland later that day.
Heavy foot and vehicular traffic
The harbour area of Djúpivogur where the man was run over is the site of ongoing construction, as well as the site of a much-visited sculpture installation. The sculpture, by Sigurður Guðmundsson, consists of a row of oversized bird eggs carved in stone and placed along the shore. When it was installed in 2009, there was little industrial activity in the harbour and therefore less traffic.
Since that time, however, both tourist and industrial activity have increased at the site, leading to more vehicular and foot traffic. A rope had been installed to separate pedestrians from vehiclular traffic, but it had been removed at the time of the accident. According to residents of the town, the rope had been removed due to construction activities.
Authorities are reviewing safety protocols at the site and whether to install additional signage.
