Copenhagen Residents Warned Against Walking on Thin Ice

Large groups of Copenhagen residents headed to Amager Strandpark on Sunday to walk on the ice, prompting urgent warnings from emergency services. Simon Kjærgaard, incident commander at Hovedstadens Beredskab, stressed that the ice near the beach is not thick enough to support people. "It looks cozy, but it's something we strongly advise against," he told TV 2. Open water areas like coastlines and harbors experience more movement, making ice thinner and less stable than on calm lakes. Københavns Kommune clearly states on its website that ice in the harbor and along coastlines will never be considered safe. There are no signs posted at Amager Strandpark either permitting or prohibiting access to the ice. Visitor Sabrina Møller expressed surprise at the lack of signage, saying she found it strange that people had to check online. Carl Martin admitted he looked for warning signs but didn’t find any, so he assumed it was safe. According to Mads Østermark, duty officer at Copenhagen Police, walking on unsignposted ice is illegal. Authorities urge the public to use common sense and stay off the ice unless official signs indicate it’s safe. If someone falls through, they should stay above water and call for help. Bystanders must dial 112 instead of attempting a rescue themselves, as stepping onto thin ice could worsen the situation.