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Against a breathtaking backdrop, people can forget their own safety when taking a snapshot. The urge for spectacular motives not only leads to dangerous situations, but also to tragic deaths. A selection of places from around the world where taking photos is risky:
1
Harihar Fort in India
A popular selfie spot in India is a steep path to Harihar Fort in Maharashtra state. The climb appeals to many people, especially in the rainy season, when the stone steps, cut directly into the almost 80-degree vertical rock, are slippery and the wind blows strongly. Because of the risk and adrenaline rush, some people comment on the Tripadvisor platform. “The descent is more difficult than the climb because we can see where we will fall if we slip,” one user wrote. Akshay Sunil Patil, who lives nearby, says he likes adventure sports and “exciting places” like Harihar Fort. He’s not afraid.
According to a study, many people in India die while trying to take selfies. Researchers from the Indian university hospital chain AIIMS reported in 2018, based on an analysis by a global newspaper, that there had been 259 deaths from self-photography worldwide between October 2011 and November 2017, about half of which occurred in India.
2
Via ferrata in Austria
The via ferrata on the Donnerkogel with the spectacular ladder to heaven attracts thousands of people every year, sometimes poorly equipped. “People don’t know what they are getting into. It’s crazy,” says the training manager of the Upper Austrian Alpine Police, Kurt Arnold. The climb into the Salzkammergut is considered difficult even for experienced alpinists; on the 40-meter-long ladder to the sky, everyone floats about 100 meters above a gap.
“On some summer days there are as many as fifty people at the boarding point,” says Arnold. According to the Alpine police officer, some of them did not even have the absolutely necessary via ferrata equipment with them. There are posts on Instagram where daring people hang from a rung with only one arm for self-promotion. “There are always imitators,” says Arnold, who criticizes the behavior. Most recently, a Briton died en route and other tourists had to be rescued from exhaustion.
3
“Pedra do Telegrafo” in Rio
The metropolis of Rio de Janeiro is not only known for its world-famous beaches, but also for its countless spectacular viewpoints. One of these is the rock of “Pedra do Telégrafo” – a cliff at 350 meters altitude overlooking the picturesque coastal beaches, mountain ranges and the Atlantic rainforest. Tourists and locals can be photographed at the top of the rock in seemingly daring poses: whether hanging upside down with the tops of their feet or attempting to do one-armed pull-ups.
In fact, the rock is only a few centimeters above the ground and the photos only from certain angles give the impression that the person is standing on the edge of a precipice. However, in September 2023, an incident occurred that could have ended tragically: two men clashed over a photo and fell some distance down the hill. Just because one of them asked for the argument to stop could something worse be prevented.
In Rio, people continue to die trying to photograph rocky coasts, slopes, viewpoints and waterfalls. According to a fire department survey, 16 people died in the state in 2022.
4
“Train Street” in Vietnam
Officially, the famous ‘Train Street’ in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi has been closed to visitors for years. Yet tourists repeatedly overcome the barriers with large warning signs to take selfies on the photogenic train route – which runs between narrow blocks of houses. There have been several incidents in the past: once a train had to make an emergency stop to avoid a collision with a crowd of visitors. In 2022, a holiday guest from South Korea was hit by a slow-moving train. He was lucky and was only slightly injured.
A look back: Attracted by spectacular photos on the internet, more and more spectators have been coming since 2018. “Train Street” became an Instagram hotspot. Cafes and souvenir stalls opened, residents set up food stalls and restaurants even placed tables directly on the track during the ‘train-free’ period. Authorities eventually closed the attraction due to the danger. The train route dates back to the French colonial period. Today it still plays an important role for local and foreign travelers. When a train arrives, the barriers are temporarily dismantled.
5
Iguazu Falls in South America
The world-famous Iguazu Falls on the border between Brazil and Argentina are one of the most gigantic natural wonders in the world. From afar you can hear the rumbling of the 20 larger and more than 250 smaller waterfalls, which are one of the most important tourist attractions in the region. Signs on the circular paths warn against climbing on the railings. But some tourists don’t seem to be deterred by this from the supposedly perfect photo – in 2022 with fatal consequences.
A visitor sat on one of the railings to take a photo, firefighter Walter Barreiro said in an interview with Argentinian news channel TN. “The man lost his balance and fell into the river.” The masses of water would have pulled him underwater within seconds. According to the park, the average water flow is 1.8 million liters of water per second.
6
Fjord landscapes and the natural spectacles of Iceland
The vast and spectacular nature of Scandinavia attracts millions of tourists every year. The Norwegian fjord landscape and the cliffs hundreds of meters high or the Icelandic waterfalls are perfect for hunting for the perfect snapshot. In the far north, for example, brave people are attracted by high cliffs and rock formations, such as Preikestolen and Kjeragbolten in Norway or the stone bridge in Arnarstapi, Iceland. There is always danger on the rock when it rains, storms or snows – as is so often the case in Scandinavia.
In Iceland, hair-raising stories are told of carefree tourists climbing over barriers to take photos and posing too close to precipices, gorges, waterfalls or geysers. For example, in the extremely photogenic volcanic area on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland.
Following an eruption in late 2023, police say a man had to be rescued by helicopter after making the long and grueling walk to the eruption site alone. During a previous eruption in the area near Grindavík, photos of spectators climbing near a crater caused authorities to temporarily close the area to the public. After the latest eruption a few days ago, authorities begged people not to approach the eruption area.
To make travelers aware of the risks posed by Icelandic nature, the tourist authority Visit Island launched a special campaign a few years ago: tourists can take the “Icelandic Pledge”, a kind of online vow not to do anything stupid during their trip. doing. to Iceland. Rule number three is: “I will take beautiful pictures to die for, without dying for them.” (SDA)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
