Four hikers found dead after avalanche in central Greece
Four hikers who went missing on Christmas Day were found dead after being buried in an avalanche in Greece’s snow-covered Vardousia Mountains.
The bodies of three men and a woman were found after a large-scale search in the mountainous region of Fokida on Friday evening, Greek state broadcaster ERT reported.
Firefighters found the bodies, partially covered in snow, on a steep and inaccessible slope near the top of Korakas peak, at an altitude of approximately 2,000 m (6,561 ft). Rescue officials said the group was swept away by the avalanche.
Officials said the hikers started the climb in favorable weather conditions, but conditions quickly deteriorated due to the altitude and terrain of the region.
Greek Fire Brigade spokesman Vasilis Vathrakogiannis told the BBC that the alarm was raised by a friend of the three men after they did not return at the expected time.
“The weather conditions were extremely difficult, with low temperatures and poor visibility,” he said, adding that this made it difficult for both the drones and the helicopter to detect anything.
He said a fire department ground crew later found the bodies of three men and a woman, one of whom was confirmed to be a friend and was not expected to take part in the climb.
The Vardousia Mountains are considered one of the most challenging mountaineering areas in Greece, especially during the winter months when conditions can be unforgiving even for experienced climbers.
Haris Asariotakis, head of the Greek Rescue Team at the scene, said preparations were continuing to recover the bodies.
Officials said rescue teams began approaching the scene early Saturday and, due to the distance to the nearest road, a helicopter was requested to help transport the bodies if weather conditions permitted.
Additional reporting by Kostas Koukoumakas
