Death Toll Rises to 41 in Van Avalanches

* Photo: Şener Toktaş / AA

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The deceased bodies of three more persons have been discovered in Turkey's eastern province of Van after a second avalanche hit the search and rescue teams yesterday (February 5). Accordingly, the death toll of two avalanches has risen to 41 as of 5.17 p.m today.

On February 4, an avalanche struck a minibus with passengers on board and a construction equipment ploughing snow in Bahçesaray district. One day later, the search and rescue teams were engulfed by a second avalanche while looking for two missing persons.

While five people have lost their lives in the first avalanche, 36 others have lost their lives in the second one. The total death toll has risen to 41.

It has been also reported that 53 people have been wounded in two avalanches and six people are currently in intensive care unit.

Search and rescue operations continue

The search and rescue operations for the missing people started again early in the morning today (February 6). The teams of Gendarmerie Search and Rescue (JAK) and the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) searched the area with detector dogs.

The teams discovered the dead bodies of two more people during these works. Accordingly, 41 people in total have died in two avalanches.

On the other side, the search and rescue operations for the people who got missing in the first avalanche still continue as they are considered to be trapped under snow near Karabet Pass at an altitude of 3,000 meters.

Two avalanches in Van

An avalanche struck a construction equipment and a minibus in Bahçesaray in Turkey's eastern province of Van on 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, announced that five people had lost their lives in the incident and seven people had been rescued, including the driver of the construction equipment.

While the search and rescue operations for two missing people were still continuing, a second avalanche hit the same spot, claiming 36 lives. (TP/SD)