Turkey is mourning for 33 lost lives in avalanche disaster in Bahçesaray, Van

Turkey is in mourning for 33 lost lives in Avalanche disaster in Bahçesaray, Van province. It was announced by Mehmet Emin Bilmiler, the governor of Van that eight gendarmes, three security guards, three firefighters and nine non-citizens had lost their lives in the avalanche. Following this development, the AFAD statement said the casualties had risen to 33.

A second avalanche disaster occurred in the same area at 12.15 am today as the search continued for two people who had been left under an avalanche in yesterday’s disaster between Bahcesaray and Çatak districts of Van.

AFAD, UMKE, JAK and Van Metropolitan Municipality teams, as well as village rangers and citizens, were among the people who carried out rescue work in the area when a crowded team fell under another avalanche.

While some of those left under the snow came out live with their own efforts, crews which were in the area and unaffected by the avalanche embarked on rescue efforts for the victims of the second disaster this time.

As the teams raced through time, bad news continued to come from the region. A total of 11 people had been killed, eight of them gendarmes and three of them security guards, Interior Minister Soylu said.

Immediately after this announcement, the governor of Van made an announcement. The governor said eight gendarmes, three security guards, three firefighters and nine non-citizens were killed in the Avalanche.

In the last statement made by AFAD at 16:10, it was reported that the number of lost lives had increased to 33 with 53 injured.