Four Hikers Die in Avalanche in Greece’s Vardousia Mountains
Four hikers, three men and one woman, died after being caught in an avalanche in Greece's Vardousia Mountains. The group went missing on Christmas Day while climbing near Korakas peak at an altitude of about 2,000 meters.
Their bodies were found Friday evening by fire service teams conducting a large-scale search in Fokida. The victims were partially buried by snow on a steep slope. The woman was identified as a friend of one of the men and was not expected to participate in the climb.
The hikers were swept away by the avalanche amid worsening weather conditions caused by the altitude and rugged terrain. Rescue efforts faced challenges due to extremely cold temperatures and poor visibility, which impeded aerial drone and helicopter detection.
The alarm was raised by a friend after the group failed to return at the expected time. Rescue teams began approaching the site on Saturday. Authorities noted that if weather permits, a helicopter will assist in transporting the bodies given the remote location and distance from the nearest road.
The Vardousia Mountains are known as a challenging area for winter mountaineering, contributing to the risks faced by the hikers.
