site.btaMountain Rescuers Respond to 2,395 Signals for Injured People in 2023

Mountain rescuers have helped injured people in 2,395 cases between January 1 and December 2, Bulgarian Red Cross' Mountain Rescue Service (MRS) Head Emil Neshev told journalists on Tuesday. He added that given the onset of the winter season, the number of victims is likely to increase. The rescuers, along with the rescue dogs the MRF is training, are on full alert for field work, Neshev assured.

Out of all the cases of help given to injured in the mountains, 2,190 took place on ski slopes. The rescue operations in high mountains parts were 179, one more than last year - another upwards trend, Neshev added. During those operations, MRF tried to aid a total of 205 victims, out of which 179 were found alive, 23 - dead and three are missing. The number of dead people found by mountain rescuers is double the number in 2023, Neshev added.

Of the 32 rescue teams, which have a total of 530 mountain rescuers, the most actions were carried out by teams in Samokov and Sofia, and the most cases of assistance were in the Rila Mountains - 56, Neshev added. A total of seven helicopter rescues were carried out, of which five were with the medical helicopter. The other two rescue operations carried out with the Cougar helicopter were very complicated but successful, he said.

The main causes for accidents are underestimating the conditions in the mountains, being unfamiliar with the terrain, overestimating one's own abilities, insufficient preparation, riding off the slopes, and inadequate equipment, Neshev pointed out.

In case of an accident, the best way for the injured to contact mountain rescuers is by calling the 112 emergency call service, Neshev said.