Four hikers who went missing on Christmas Day have been found dead after being buried by an avalanche in the snow-covered Vardousia Mountains in central Greece.
The bodies of three men and a woman were recovered on Friday evening after a large-scale search operation in the Fokida mountainous region, as reported by Greek state broadcaster ERT.
Emergency teams located the deceased individuals partially covered by snow on a steep and inaccessible slope near the summit of Korakas peak, which stands at an altitude of about 2,000 meters (6,561 feet). Rescuers confirmed that an avalanche had swept the group away.
Initial reports indicated that the hikers began their ascent in favorable weather. However, conditions deteriorated rapidly due to the altitude and the challenging terrain.
Vasilis Vathrakogiannis, a spokesperson for the Hellenic Fire Service, mentioned that a friend of the three men raised the alarm after they failed to return at the expected time. The search faced severe difficulties stemming from extreme weather conditions, including low temperatures and limited visibility, which hindered the effectiveness of drones and helicopters in the search.
Recovery efforts commenced over the weekend, described by officials as exceptionally challenging. One of the bodies was airlifted by helicopter, while efforts continued to recover the remaining three using ground teams, complicated by the location’s inaccessibility.
Haris Asariotakis, the head of the Hellenic Rescue Team mission, noted that the site is approximately three hours from the village of Athanasios Diakos at an altitude of 2,000 meters. If helicopter access remains impossible, rescue teams will trek on foot alongside firefighters and mountain guides to proceed with the recovery.
The event serves as a somber reminder of the inherent risks associated with winter hiking and the need for preparedness when exploring mountain terrains.
