Nine mountaineers, including three firefighters and six hikers, were caught by an avalanche on Tuesday while ascending Mount Aragats, the highest peak in Armenia. According to Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, eight of the mountaineers have been rescued, while the ninth remains missing. Two firefighters from the Special Operations Group (GRAE) suffered minor injuries, but a volunteer firefighter was seriously injured and is receiving medical attention.
The Uniò Excursionista Urgellenca club revealed that among those rescued are members of their organization and that the families have been informed. Meanwhile, the mayor of La Seu d’Urgell confirmed the tragic news that the missing mountaineer is believed to have died. The honorary consul of Armenia in Barcelona specified that Armenian authorities have located the missing climber, although his death has not been officially confirmed yet.
Armenian rescue services temporarily suspended rescue operations until the next day due to the inability of helicopters to fly at night. Despite the low temperatures, they still maintain hope of finding the missing mountaineer. The Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center has warned about the increased risk of avalanches in the mountainous regions of Armenia in the coming days due to high temperatures.
Mount Aragats, located in the Aragatsotn province, is a popular destination among local climbers in Armenia. It is an extinct volcano that reaches an elevation of 4,095 meters. Armenian authorities continue their search and rescue efforts in the mountainous area affected by the avalanche, hoping to find the missing mountaineer and provide support to those rescued.