The EMAK of Heraklion and the P.Y. of Rethymno in Psiloritis carry out an extrication and rescue operation for five young people aged between 21 and 26.

This is a high-risk rescue operation, according to an update to APE BEE by the Operations Coordinator, given that under extreme weather conditions, hard ice and fog, 5 rescuers from EMAK and 2 from P.Y. Rethymnon are headed to the top of Psiloritis where the five young men have been trapped.

Specifically, two days ago the young people climbed and ended up at the chapel of the Holy Cross at the top of Psiloritis. They had with them food, water but no personal equipment for difficult conditions. According to the data available in the Coordinator, the young people had not been informed about the coming bad weather, they did not have the provisions for survival with them but also for communication, such as batteries.

This morning, the team started the attempt to descend from the mountain, but the strong winds of up to 10 Beaufort blowing, did not allow it. They informed the fire department via 112, whose officers contacted the young people, gave them instructions and also set times and intervals for communication.

The rescuers are approaching the summit from the south side of Psiloritis, from Lochria, in the hope that the conditions will be better than those of the northern point that the young people chose to climb, namely from the side of the Mylopotamos Meadows, the point of Lygeros.

The ice, especially at the top, creates conditions of hard frost, the operation according to the update of APE BEE is very difficult and the rescuers are expected to reach Timios Stavros around 4 in the afternoon if everything goes according to plan. “We believe that we will manage to unlock the youth team. From 12 noon to 6 in the afternoon, a meteorological window of opportunity has been created which we will take advantage of despite the prevailing fog”, said the representative of the Coordinating Regional Administration of Crete, to APE MPE.

“What those who want to attempt ascents must understand is that they must consult the weather reports, be properly and adequately supplied and have equipment available for continuous communication,” said the Coordination officer.