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Iran avalanche leaves five mountain climbers dead and four injured

Iran avalanche leaves five mountain climbers dead and four injured

An avalanche in Iran has killed five mountain climbers and injured another four.

State-run news agency IRNA said rescue workers recovered five bodies from San Boran in Lorestan, around 186 miles southwest of Tehran.

The four survivors were taken to hospital following the incident on Friday.

IRNA reported that the nine-strong mountaineering team started their ascent on Thursday, despite local authorities warning them about risks.

In recent weeks San Boran peak, the highest on Iran’s Oshtorankuh mountain in the Zagros range at 4,150 meters, has seen heavy rain and snow.

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.”

Avalanches are relatively rare in the Middle Eastern country, but in 2020, 12 people were killed on Christmas Day.