Not a designated tourist site, says local official after fatal accident
Hlauptungufoss is one of three waterfalls in the Brúará River. mbl.is/
"It’s deeply sad and upsetting that this keeps happening. Those responsible for safety measures need to take a serious look at this,” says Ásta Stefánsdóttir, municipal manager of Bláskógabyggð, in an interview with mbl.is following a tragic accident at Hlauptungufoss on the Brúará river yesterday. A foreign tourist, a woman in her forties, fell into the river and lost her life.
When asked, Ásta confirmed that warning signs in the area had been renewed in recent years, though not as part of a formal overhaul. “This is private land and not an officially designated tourist site. People just go there at their own discretion,” she says. While the accident site is on municipal land, she emphasizes that the local government wants to do everything it can to ensure public safety.
Heavily trafficked Golden Circle
“We will review the situation with the police after the weekend to see whether signage can be improved or the danger made more visible. Dangerous spots exist throughout Iceland’s nature, and accidents can never be completely ruled out. But when incidents keep occurring in the same area, more direct warnings are needed,” Stefánsdóttir adds.
Asked about the flow of visitors, she explains that tourism in Bláskógabyggð is now year-round. “The Golden Circle runs through this area and includes several popular tourist destinations. It wasn’t long ago that tourism was mainly a summer industry, but now it’s a year-round sector with restaurants and accommodations open in all seasons,” she says.
