A large SAR (search and rescue) operation was started in the early afternoon of Wednesday, March 12, when 3 men had not returned back to Longyearbyen from their trip to the east coast of Spitsbergen. The private group, all locals from Longyearbyen in their 30ies, left for the east coast with snow mobiles on Monday and should have returned Tuesday evening or later that night. As they did not return to their jobs on Wednesday, their boss alarmed the authorities (Sysselmannen).
Sysselmannen and Red Cross started a SAR operation with 2 helicopters, which lasted the whole afternoon on Wednesday, without any result for many hours. Next to several huts on the east coast which can be used by locals, an immensely large area had to be checked. The group had not informed anyone in Longyearbyen about the exact details of their plans, nor did they have a satellite beacon or satellite telephone which would, very likely, have made the SAR operation much shorter and easier.
In spite of darkness, the emergency forces kept going in the evening and found the 3 men shortly after 11 p.m. on Königsbergbreen. They had given an emergency signal, probably using a torch, and could be transported back to Longyearbyen with some undercooling, but generally in good condition. They were taken to the hospital for medical examination.
Königsbergbreen is a large glacier near the east coast of Spitsbergen, north of Mohnbukta, and part of a frequently travelled route.
The cause for the delay is not yet known in public. Technical difficulties with snow mobiles are certainly possible, including getting stuck in deep, soft snow after periods of snowfall.
In this area, tourists are obliged to inform authorities about their plans well in advance, they have to have insurance for SAR operations and a satellite emergency beacon. Locals do not have this legal obligation.
This and other publishing products of the Spitsbergen publishing house in the Spitsbergen-Shop.
Norwegens arktischer Norden (1): Spitzbergen
Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German. [shop url="https://shop.spitzbergen.de/en/polar-books/70-norwegens-arktischer-norden-1-aerial-arctic-9783937903262.html"] ← Back
Lofoten, Jan Mayen and Spitsbergen from the air - Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German, but there is very little text, so I am sure that you will enjoy it regardless which languages you read (or not).
The companion book for the Svalbardhytter poster. The poster visualises the diversity of Spitsbergen‘s huts and their stories in a range of Arctic landscapes. The book tells the stories of the huts in three languages.
Comprehensive guidebook about Spitsbergen. Background (wildlife, plants, geology, history etc.), practical information including travelling seasons, how to travel, description of settlements, routes and regions.
Join an exciting journey with dog, skis and tent through the wintery wastes of East Greenland! We were five guys and a dog when we started in Ittoqqortoormiit, the northernmost one of two settlements on Greenland’s east coast.
12 postcards which come in a beautifully designed tray. Beautiful images from South Georgia across Antarctica from the Antarctic Peninsula to the Ross Sea and up to Macquarie Island and Campbell Island.