From June 15 until the end of September, the Tatra Volunteer Search and Rescue (TOPR) teams were dispatched to 613 accidents. In the same period last year, the number of interventions was lower by nearly a half - 367. This season is among the most tragic - said TOPR rescuer, Andrzej Maciata.
During the summer season in the Tatras, 8 people died, including 4 as a result of a heavy thunderstorm that struck Giewont massif.
"We had two very serious incidents this summer. One was the mass-accident on Giewont, when we rescued 157 people after the thunderstorm. We also helped 400 people who had been stuck at the top of Kasprowy Wierch. At the time, thunderstorm caused a malfunction of the cableway mechanism, and we had evacuate tourists from the mountain at night," Maciata listed.
Moreover, the list of the most tragic accidents in the Tatras will also be extended by the tragic incident in the Wielka Śnieżna cave, where two spelunkers went missing and died due to extreme conditions. Many TOPR rescuers were involved in the mission to remove the bodies of the cavers. The action took very long, as from its beginning, until last pieces of equipment have been removed, one month passed.
"It was a very long and complicated mission. Many people and lots of equipment were involved. The mission was extremely difficult, we had to widen the very narrow corridors with explosives," TOPR rescuers said.
Furthermore, there were many other touristic accidents in the Tatras this summer, including faintings and sudden illnesses up the mountains.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: tvn24