The fake messages might have come from abroad

"There is nothing to suggest otherwise," says Sveinn Kristján Rúnarsson, senior police officer at the police in Suðurland, in a conversation with Morgunblaðinn's reporter, when asked if it is possible to categorically say that the request of tourists in Mt Kerlingarfjöll for help was a false message.

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The search has been postponed: Suspicion of a fake message

An extensive search was launched in the area after the emergency line received a call for help on the evening of August 5, believed to be from tourists trapped in a cave.

The search yielded nothing, and the next day it became clear that there were strong indications that the request had not come from individuals in need, but that it was a hoax. The search was then suspended.

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Crevasse search for missing travelers

The search was attended by several rescuers, police officers, and representatives of the Coast Guard, but in total, almost 200 people took part in it.

The police in Southland decided on Tuesday to suspend the search. Although the current situation is called a "search break", Rúnarsson says it is not expected that the search will start again.

Then there is no indication that the emergency message was not fake. There has been no report of a missing person.

The message was sent in English

The request for help reached the emergency line in English. According to Rúnarsson, the police do not rule out that the fake messages could have come from abroad.

The senior police officer says that data is still being processed and that there is not much that can be disclosed about the case at the moment.

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Two tourists missing: Searching all caves but no one has been found

The police are in contact with internet companies and telephone companies, and that they are collecting data both in Iceland and abroad in connection with the investigation. There is a need to go through all kinds of data and it can turn out to be rather complicated.

"We are still processing these data and following these trails. It all takes a little time," Rúnarsson concludes.