5 People Lose Their Lives in Avalanche in Van

* Photo: Özkan Bilgin - Van/AA

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An avalanche struck a construction equipment and a minibus in Bahçesaray in Turkey's eastern province of Van yesterday (February 4).

The construction equipment was ploughing snow near Karabet Mountain Pass at an altitude of 3 thousand meters. Several passengers were trapped under snow as a result of the avalanche.

Van Governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez, who has also been appointed as a trustee to Van Metropolitan Municipality, has announced that five people have lost their lives in the incident and seven people have been rescued, including the driver of the construction equipment.

There might be two more people still trapped under snow, Bilmez has indicated further. So, the search and rescue operations still continue.

Indicating that snow and blizzard are still effective, Bilmez has stressed that snowfall has brought about the possibility of a new avalanche.

He got out of the snow by himself

The incident occured at the 33rd kilometer of Van-Bahçesaray Highway. Getting out of the construction equipment trapped under snow by himself, Bahattin Karagülle called the authorities and informed them that a minibus with passengers on board was dragged and trapped under snow.

The teams of Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), National Medical Rescue (UMKE), 112 Emergency Line, Highways and gendarmerie officers were referred to the scene of incident.

Bilmez has said that the AFAD and fire brigade teams are in the area and a group of around 200 people are conducting the search and rescue operations. (EKN/TP/SD)