5 Killed in Avalanche in Eastern Turkey

World

February 5th, 10:10am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Five people were killed in an avalanche in eastern Turkey. (AFP)

At least five people were killed when an avalanche struck eastern Turkey. The avalanche occurred late Tuesday near the mountain-surrounded town of Bahcesehir, in Van province, which borders Iran. It buried a snow-clearing vehicle and a minibus, and killing at least five people, an official said Wednesday. Two other people are reported missing. Gov. Mehmet Emin Bilmez told reporters that the snow-clearing vehicle's operator and six people inside the minibus survived. Rescuers were searching for the other two passengers, but their efforts were hampered by the weather conditions. The state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the operator, Bahattin Karagulle, was trapped beneath the snow for some 25 minutes before he managed to break a window and escape. The agency quoted him as saying that he walked toward a village before he was picked up by a vehicle and managed to seek help.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2116356/5-killed-avalanche-eastern-turkey