OREANDA-NEWS. In Van Province in eastern Turkey, 23 people, including 8 police officers and 3 firefighters, died as a result of an avalanche. This was reported by NTV and Milli Gazete with reference to the region’s governor, Mehmet Emin Bilmez.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, 13 people with various injuries were hospitalized. Rescuers managed to evacuate 30 people from the heap. According to preliminary data, 10–15 people remain under snow, and 2 are reported missing.

The incident occurred on February 4 at about 17:00 local time. An avalanche that descended from the mountain dropped a minibus from a 40 meter cliff. The driver and seven passengers survived and called the rescuers.

Search and rescue operations were suspended at about 1:00 due to adverse weather conditions (fog and heavy snow) and resumed on February 5 at 07:00. About 200 people took part in the rescue operation. During the search, another avalanche occurred.