Five killed and four hurt in massive avalanche in Iran after urgent weather warning
FIVE people have died in a massive avalanche in Iran and four others have been left seriously injured.
Rescue workers found five bodies on the 13,000 ft mountain after local authorities warned about the risks following extreme weather.
Four survivors were rushed to hospital on Friday after starting the dangerous climb the day before.
The climbers were taking on Iran’s 4,150-metre Oshtorankuh mountain, around 180 miles southwest of Tehran, when they died.
Its highest San Boran peak, has seen extreme weather conditions of heavy rain and snow in recent weeks, according to state news outlet IRNA.
In a statement, the Iranian Red Crescent said: “Yesterday, following the avalanche in Oshtorankuh, Lorestan, nine people had an accident, of which four people were taken to the hospital with the efforts of aid workers, and unfortunately five people were also missing.
“The bodies of two of the missing people were found yesterday.
“The bodies of three more missing climbers were found a few minutes ago with the efforts of the Red Crescent rescuers.”
While avalanches are not common in Iran, a deadly one in 2020 killed 12 people in mountains north of Tehran.
The Iranian Red Crescent posted footage online of rescuers working to free any survivors from the snow and to find bodies of those who didn’t survive.
They said in a statement under the clip on Thursday: “The moment one of the missing climbers was found by Red Crescent rescuers.
“Before noon today (December 3) following the avalanche in Ashtrankoh Lorestan, unfortunately 5 climbers were missing and the bodies of 2 people were found during the search and rescue operation.
“The search operation for 3 other climbers is still ongoing.”