Five mountain climbers have been killed and four injured after a deadly avalanche hit western Iran following warnings about extreme weather dangers.
The nine climbers were taking on Iran’s 4,150-metre Oshtorankuh mountain, around 180 miles southwest of Tehran, when they died.
In a statement, the Iranian Red Crescent said: “Yesterday, following the avalanche in Oshtorankuh, Lorestan, nine people had an accident, of which four people were taken to the hospital with the efforts of aid workers, and unfortunately five people were also missing.
“The bodies of two of the missing people were found yesterday. The bodies of three more missing climbers were found a few minutes ago with the efforts of the Red Crescent rescuers.”
The nine-member team of climbers began their journey on Thursday despite a warning by local authorities about a possible risk, according to Iran’s state news agency.
The peak, the highest of the Oshtrankooh mountain range, San Boran, which sits at about 13,600 feet, has seen heavy rains and snow in recent weeks.
Iran has occasionally seen deadly avalanches over the years – in 2020, a series of avalanches killed 12 people in a mountainous area north of Tehran.
