TEHRAN – An ice cave collapsed Thursday in the southwestern part of the country, left one dead, the governor of Koohrang city has said.

The collapse took place at Chama ice cave located in the central part of the Koohrang city, Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari Province, a popular spot for people wanting to get away from the heat.

A number of tourists trapped under the snow who were rescued by the Red Crescent rescue and relief forces, IRNA quoted Morteza Zamanpour as saying.

Meanwhile, head of the cultural heritage, handicrafts and tourism of Koohrang city Farjam Samiei-Kermani said that ignoring the guard’s warning is considered to be the main cause of the incident.

Despite all the warnings about heat weaken the cave which makes the ice more prone to melting, a number of tourists were locked up in the cave surrounding by ice and snow, he regretted.

He went on to say that some 12 people were injured, including a 15-year-old boy who lost life due to the severity of injuries.

Last year on September, Chama ice cave collapsed taking lives of 2 tourists from Shiraz, Fars province.

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