2009 Zigana avalanche
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Zigana avalanche was an avalanche
that occurred on the 25th of January 2009 at around 11:15 local time (09:15 UTC) on Mount Zigana, Gümüşhane Province
in north-eastern Turkey
. It struck a group of 17 hikers at a height of 2200 m (7,217.8 ft) near the site of a small ski resort. The snow mass dragged the trekkers about 1000 m (3,280.8 ft) into a valley. Ten people were killed, one person was rescued with injuries and another one died in hospital while five others survived without injuries.
Teams from civilian defense and other public administrations rushed to the scene for the rescue of the victims from a sports club in Trabzon
after local gendarmerie was notified of the incident. Also a team of AKUT, a voluntary disaster search and rescue organization, travelled from Trabzon to the location, to assess the situation and to offer any help and assistance necessary.
Nasuh Mahruki
, the first Turkish Mt. Everest summiter and the head of AKUT, said that "the accident was a walking group accident, not a mountain climbing accident. It is apparent that they hit the road without an avalanche test. It is very difficult for 16 to 17 people to remain under an avalanche."
Avalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
that occurred on the 25th of January 2009 at around 11:15 local time (09:15 UTC) on Mount Zigana, Gümüşhane Province
Gümüshane Province
Gümüşhane Province is a province in northern Turkey, bordering Bayburt to the east, Trabzon to the north, Giresun and Erzincan to the west. It covers an area of 6,575 km² and has a population of 129,618 in 2010. The population was 186,953 in 2000. The name Gümüşhane means silver house...
in north-eastern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. It struck a group of 17 hikers at a height of 2200 m (7,217.8 ft) near the site of a small ski resort. The snow mass dragged the trekkers about 1000 m (3,280.8 ft) into a valley. Ten people were killed, one person was rescued with injuries and another one died in hospital while five others survived without injuries.
Teams from civilian defense and other public administrations rushed to the scene for the rescue of the victims from a sports club in Trabzon
Trabzon
Trabzon is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of Trabzon Province. Trabzon, located on the historical Silk Road, became a melting pot of religions, languages and culture for centuries and a trade gateway to Iran in the southeast and the Caucasus to the northeast...
after local gendarmerie was notified of the incident. Also a team of AKUT, a voluntary disaster search and rescue organization, travelled from Trabzon to the location, to assess the situation and to offer any help and assistance necessary.
Nasuh Mahruki
Nasuh Mahruki
Ali Nasuh Mahruki is a professional mountain climber, writer, photographer and documentary film producer. An all-round outdoor sportsman, he climbed to the summit of Mount Everest and was the first ever Turkish person to climb the Seven Summits.Ali Nasuh Mahruki was born in Istanbul...
, the first Turkish Mt. Everest summiter and the head of AKUT, said that "the accident was a walking group accident, not a mountain climbing accident. It is apparent that they hit the road without an avalanche test. It is very difficult for 16 to 17 people to remain under an avalanche."