A major rescue operation on Mount Taygetos has entered a critical new phase after firefighters successfully located and reached eight climbers who had been trapped high on the mountain since Sunday morning.
According to the Fire Service, rescue teams have now approached all eight climbers and are transferring them to a mountain shelter used during emergencies and expeditions. The operation is focused on safely moving the group out of the dangerous area following a fall into a ravine near the Prophet Elias peak, at an altitude of more than 2,000 meters (about 6,560 feet).
Authorities said four of the climbers were injured in the incident. First aid is being provided on site, and the injured are being transported by stretcher toward the mountain refuge by firefighting and specialized rescue units.
Emergency services were alerted around 1 p.m. local time after reports that the group was experiencing serious difficulties in the area. Officials said there has been continuous communication with the leader of the climbing group, who informed rescuers that four members have been injured and require air evacuation.
The climbers managed to transmit their precise location to rescue teams, a development authorities say has been crucial in guiding the operation. Because their position is known, officials have stressed that the group is not considered missing, and efforts are focused on their safe removal from the mountain.
A total of 41 firefighters are taking part in the operation, including specialized mountain rescue units from the 1st and 6th EMAK teams, elite divisions of Greece’s Fire Service trained for search-and-rescue missions in extreme conditions. Also deployed is the 9th EMODE unit, which specializes in disaster response, along with the Peloponnese-based IKAROS drone team, providing aerial surveillance to support ground crews in the steep terrain.
Mount Taygetos, located on the Peloponnese peninsula, is popular with experienced hikers and climbers but is also known for its hazards, particularly during the winter months. Authorities have not released further details about the climbers or the extent of their injuries.
The rescue operation remains in progress as of Sunday evening.
