400 have died after falling through thin ice as they travelled to their winter pastures, in Jokkmokk, northern Sweden. Herders of the reindeer were taking around 3,000 across a frozen river, a path regularly used safely in the past.
”The ice suddenly gave way and hundreds of reindeer fell into the water,” said Bertil Kielatis, chairman of the Sirges Sami village, a community of 300 members and 90 herders. The herders were using snow-mobiles and were assisted by a helicopter.
The incident will result in a massive financial loss for the herders, Kielatis added; “It’s a tragedy in many ways. Not only for the reindeer that suffered but for the herders who were helpless to save their animals.”
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