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Avalanches kill 12 in mountainous area near Iran's capital

Posted December 27, 2020 6:00 am

The Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iranian rescue workers ended their search for survivors Sunday following a series of avalanches that killed 12 people in a mountainous area north of the capital, state TV reported.

The avalanches struck in four different areas on Friday following strong winds and snowfall a day earlier.

The Alborz mountain range where the avalanches occurred is a popular weekend destination for hiking and climbing. Fridays are a day off for most Iranian workers.

State TV aired footage showing emergency crews using a helicopter to search for the missing. Iran's Red Crescent Society also released photos of rescue workers unloading body bags from a helicopter Saturday.

The report said 11 people were found dead, and one died after being transferred to a hospital. It said rescue teams found 14 missing people during the operation.

Authorities said many had disregarded reports by the meteorological office about possible strong winds Friday.

Deadly avalanches are a rare phenomenon in Iran. In 2017, two avalanches killed 11 hikers.

In this photo released by Iran's Red Crescent Society, rescuers work to unload bags containing bodies of mountaineers who died after avalanches in a mountainous area north of the capital Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020. A series of avalanches in Iran killed multiple people on Friday following strong winds and snowfall a day earlier. (Iran's Red Crescent Society via AP) The Associated Press

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