A tragic accident on a famous island. A girl drowned.

A fatal accident occurred at the popular Reynisfjara Beach in Iceland. A 9-year-old girl was swept away by the waves and died. The child was in the water with her father and sister, who were rescued. Reynisfjara Beach has been repeatedly deemed unsafe. It is one of the most popular attractions in the south of the island, visited by thousands of tourists each year. Signs are posted at the site, warning about dangerous currents, among other things.

9-year-old girl swept away by waves

Last August weekend, an accident involving a family of German tourists occurred at Reynisfjara Beach. On Saturday afternoon, a father and his two daughters approached the water and were swept away by the waves. Two of them managed to escape the current, but the 9-year-old quickly found herself submerged. A rescue helicopter was called to the scene and found the girl on the Atlantic Ocean shore two hours later. The child was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead.

There have been accidents here in the past.

This isn't the first fatality at the famous black volcanic beach of Reynisfjara. Travelers visiting southern Iceland also far too often ignore weather warnings. Storms are a time to stay away from this attraction, and that's precisely when many people choose to visit.

Although there are numerous signs on the beach warning against approaching the ocean, in the pursuit of the perfect photo, careless tourists often take a step too far. The waves here can often be unpredictable, and the current too strong for even physically fit adults to withstand. Unfortunately, tourists often approach the island's other attractions – volcanoes and geysers – with similar recklessness.