URGENT UPDATE: Four climbers have been tragically found dead after an avalanche buried them near the summit of a 6,500ft mountain in the Vardousia Mountains of Greece on December 25, 2023. Local reports confirm that the climbers, including three men and a woman, were discovered embracing one another, covered in snow, after a festive hike went horribly wrong.
The victims, identified as Thanasis Koloutouros, Theodora Kaplani, Konstantinos Patikas, and Giorgos Domalis, set out from the village of Athanasios Diakos on Christmas morning, intending to summit Korakas. Initially, the weather conditions appeared favorable, but they quickly deteriorated, leading to the deadly avalanche.
Authorities report that despite the clear skies when they began, heavy snowfall and steep terrain significantly increased the risk. Rescuers indicated that the climbers were likely caught off guard, with Vasilis Vathrakogiannis from the Hellenic Fire Service stating, “Weather conditions were extremely difficult, with low temperatures and poor visibility.” This troubling turn of events necessitated the use of search and rescue drones and helicopters, which faced challenges due to the worsening weather.
The alarm was raised when friends of the group became concerned after they failed to return from their hike. The bodies were located approximately three hours from their starting point at an altitude of 2,000m. Officials are continuing recovery efforts for the remaining three victims.
Haris Asariotakis, head of the Hellenic Rescue Team, emphasized the complexities of the search operation, noting that if helicopters cannot reach the site, rescuers will have to descend on foot. Kostas Tsigas, the president of the Fire Officers’ Association, added that the climbers may have lost their way due to the rapidly changing conditions, stating, “Visibility was very low, there was a lot of snow, and possibly a blizzard affected the route they took.”
This tragic incident follows a series of avalanche-related fatalities across Europe, highlighting the dangers climbers face during winter months. As investigations continue, the community mourns the loss of these experienced adventurers who sought the thrill of the mountains during the holiday season.
Stay tuned for further updates as recovery operations and investigations unfold.
