Four hikers were found dead Friday afternoon in the Vardousia Mountains of central Greece, their bodies swept away by an avalanche that struck during a Christmas trekking expedition. Rescue teams discovered the three men and one woman buried beneath snow near the Korakas peak at an altitude of 2,200 meters (7,200 feet). The group had been off the marked trail when the slope gave way, likely triggered by rising temperatures destabilizing fresh snowfall. The discovery ended a desperate two-day search operation launched after the group was reported missing on Christmas night. Authorities initially searched for three men but later determined a 31-year-old woman—a primary school teacher believed to be the partner of one of the climbers—had joined the excursion. "The village is in shock," said Konstantinos Mastrokostopoulos, the local community president. Mr. Mastrokostopoulos noted that deceptive weather conditions played a fatal role. "They were taken by the avalanche and carried downhill," he said. "The weather looked good, with strong sunshine after days of frost, but those were exactly the conditions that can cause an avalanche." Rescuers found the victims close together, suggesting they had no time to react. The recovery effort involved more than 30 firefighters, drones, a helicopter, and specialized mountain guides, with the local school serving as a coordination center. The victims were described as experienced outdoor enthusiasts. One was a prominent climber from western Greece who documented his expeditions online; another, a tech professional, ran an extreme sports YouTube channel. A third victim had recently settled in the nearby village of Athanasios Diakos and had invited the group for the holiday hike. Authorities warned that climate-driven weather volatility has heightened risks for winter mountaineering, urging extreme caution regarding snowpack stability. Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr