Five hikers killed in avalanche on Mt. Mainalos

   

   

    Five hikers were killed and six others were lightly injured in an avalanche near a ski resort on Mt. Mainalon on Sunday. They were part of a 32-member group of hikers visiting the area.

    The bodies of the five hikers -- initially reported as missing on Sunday after an avalanche struck a section of the ski centre at Ostrakina, some 30 kilometres outside Tripolis, on Mt. Mainalon in the Peloponnese -- were recovered in the early afternoon, while six others were lightly injured, rescue workers reported.

    The leader of a group of hikers, speaking to fire brigade officers by cell phone, had initially reported that at least five of the 32 members of the group were missing after the avalanche struck at 1:35 p.m. at Ostrakina on Mt. Mainalos. He also said he feared two of the missing trekkers were dead.

    Three fire trucks and a ground division of 50 firefighters from Tripolis rushed to the region, as well as a 15-member team of the EMAK emergency rescue squad from Elefsina, with specially trained dogs, and a group of volunteer rescuers from Patras with a special vehicle equipped with trackers capable of tracing persons in the snow, assisted by a Super Puma all-weather helicopter.

    The site of the avalanche was at a large distance from the Mt. Mainalon ski centre, and snowfall and heavy fog in the area were obstructing the efforts of rescue crews.

    According to later reports, the bodies of the five missing hikers were found by rescue workers under the snow.

    The 32-member group, belonging to the Greek Hiking Club of Athens, was on a visit to the Mainalos Ski Centre, and were on the peak of Profitis Ilias when the avalanche hit.

    Three of the casualties are men, and two are women. The six injured hikers were taken to the Panarkadiko Hospital for first aid, and five were released shortly afterwards.

   

More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form