The search for two missing tourists from Germany was called off last week with the whereabouts of the two young men remaining a mystery. A comprehensive search of the Svinafellsjokull glacier was conducted by search teams of over 200 people over a number of days, however searchers failed to find any clues as to the tourists’ location.
Geir Jon Thorisson, a senior police officer in the southern region of Iceland explained to the local press, “As no new information that could lead us to the missing persons has surfaced for a long time, search organisers have made a mutual decision to call it off.”
The last efforts of the search crew included mobilising nearly 200 people into 23 groups to comb the glacier as well as the sub-glacier of Oraefajokull. The team included experienced mountaineers who knew the terrain. In addition, a helicopter from the Coast Guard helped with transportation of the search teams and conducted air searches.
Leader of the search expedition, Vidir Reynisson, the representative of the Commissioner of the Icelandic Police, said the search had been well conducted. “The teams have grown extremely tired and some have hiked the glacier for four days in a row and searched for hours at high altitudes,” he said.
After the search team’s failure to locate Thomas Grundt and Matthias Hinz, Reynisson said, “We are going to go through our documents and review the evidence again to make sure we followed up on every lead.”
The two were reported missing when they failed to board their return flight home on August 17th. Their tents were found on the Svinafellsjokull glacier but no other trace of the pair has been discovered. The glacier is known for its deep crevasses, especially dangerous at this time of year.
The incident has called attention to safety precautions taken by hikers, particularly tourists, on dangerous Icelandic terrain. As a result, several members of the tourist industry are preparing information brochures to help educate the public about the dangers of hiking in the region.