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'Ten killed' in Turkish avalanche Ten killed in Turkish avalanche
(about 2 hours later)
At least 10 mountaineers have been killed in avalanche in north-east Turkey, local officials say. An avalanche in north-east Turkey has killed 10 climbers, while seven others from the same group managed to survive.
Authorities say one or two other people are believed to be missing, feared trapped under the snow. Two of the climbers remain in hospital, after being rescued by search teams on Mount Zigana, in Gumushane province.
At least four people were rescued and taken to hospital. Two of the casualties were seriously hurt. "Our pain is great. I extend my condolences to the families of the victims," said housing minister Faruk Nafiz Ozak, who visited the scene.
The avalanche struck as the group was climbing the 7,260 ft (2,200 metres) Mount Zigana, in Gumushane province, Turkish NTV television reported. Officials said the avalanche may have been caused by unusually warm temperatures loosening snow.
Television pictures showed military personnel and other rescuers carrying one climber on a stretcher through the snow. The avalanche struck at about 1100 (0900 GMT) as the climbers were at a height of 7,260ft (2,200m), Turkish NTV television reported.
One of the survivors, Ural Ayar, told NTV: "We were walking and before we realised what was going on, the avalanche came on us. I had no chance of getting out alone - [a fellow climber] forked out the snow and released first my left, then my right leg Rahmi KelesSurvivor Mr Ozak said the climbers were crossing a deep valley when a huge block of snow dislodged and hit the group - members of a mountaineering club in neighbouring Trabzon province.
"The snow dragged our friends along and unfortunately they were buried," he said. Search teams and locals equipped with shovels, and accompanied by sniffer dogs, scoured the slopes for bodies and survivors.
It is unclear how many people were in the hiking party when the avalanche hit. One of the survivors, 60-year-old Rahmi Keles, said he saw the avalanche approaching but was pulled under it.
He told Turkish media he had managed to clear the snow from his face and shout to a fellow climber for help.
"I had no chance of getting out alone. She forked out the snow and released first my left, then my right leg. Without Yonca I would not have survived," he told the state-run Anatolian news agency.