Tourists Walk 10 Kilometres To Call For Help

Rescue teams assisted four foreign travellers whose vehicle became stuck in heavy snow in Mælifellsdalur yesterday evening, reports RÚV.

It appears the group had been planning to cross Kjölur on their way south when their vehicle became stuck in deep snow in the valley.

There is no mobile phone reception in the inner part of Mælifellsdalur in Skagafjörður, meaning part of the group had to walk five kilometres through snow and temperatures as low as -18°C to reach a signal. Once they managed to call for assistance, they were advised to walk back to the vehicle to take shelter. In total, the group walked ten kilometres in order to call for help.

The emergency call came in around dinnertime, and approximately two hours later the travellers had been rescued. Members of the Air Rescue Team in Varmahlíð and the Skagafjörður Rescue Team in Sauðárkrókur responded to the call.

For any car travel in winter, check road.is for road conditions and vedur.is for weather updates.