Tragic Discovery: Hikers Found After Avalanche in Greece

This article recounts the heartbreaking story of four hikers who went missing on Christmas Day in the Vardousia Mountains of central Greece. Sadly, their bodies were discovered after they were buried by an avalanche, prompting a large-scale search operation in the challenging terrain.

Incident Overview

On Friday evening, emergency services reported the recovery of three men and one woman near the summit of Korakas peak in the mountainous Fokida region. The tragic event unfolded after the group was swept away by an avalanche while hiking at an elevation of approximately 2,000 meters (6,561 feet).

Weather Conditions and Search Efforts

The hikers originally set out during favorable weather conditions. However, as they climbed, the weather deteriorated drastically due to altitude and terrain factors. Vasilis Vathrakogiannis, a spokesperson for the Hellenic Fire Service, noted that a friend of the hikers raised the alarm when they failed to return as planned.

“Weather conditions were extremely difficult, with low temperatures and poor visibility,” Vathrakogiannis explained. “This made it challenging for drones and helicopters to spot them.”

Following the distress call, a ground team from the fire service located the bodies partially buried in snow on a steep and inaccessible slope. Among the deceased was a woman who had joined the group unexpectedly for the hike.

Challenging Recovery Operation

Recovery efforts began on Saturday, described by officials as a particularly arduous operation due to the harsh conditions. One body was successfully airlifted by helicopter, while efforts continued to transfer the remaining three to a plateau using a winch.

Logistics and Terrain Challenges

Haris Asariotakis, who leads the Hellenic Rescue Team mission on-site, emphasized the difficulty of the location. “It is about a three-hour trek from the village of Athanasios Diakos, and if the helicopter cannot reach the area, we will have to descend on foot, accompanied by firefighters and mountain guides,” he remarked.

Conclusion

The tragedy in the Vardousia Mountains serves as a somber reminder of the dangers that accompany hiking in challenging terrains, especially during unpredictable weather conditions. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims during this difficult time.

• Four hikers went missing and were later found dead following an avalanche in central Greece.
• The group was hiking near the summit of Korakas peak when they were swept away by snow.
• Weather conditions deteriorated rapidly, complicating rescue efforts for the search teams.
• A total recovery operation involved both aerial and ground strategies due to the difficult terrain.