Two avalanches in eastern Turkey have killed 38 people, most of them buried by the second snowslide while working to rescue victims of the first, officials said on Wednesday.
Lucy Fielder reports.
Second avalanche kills dozens of rescuers in Turkey
Trying to dig survivors out of deep snow with shovels and sticks.
Two avalanches in eastern Turkey have killed dozens of people, most of them rescuers buried by the second snow slide as they worked to free people caught up in the first.
Turkey's disaster authority said at least five people were killed initially, and rescuers were searching for two more victims when the second avalanche hit.
That one killed at least 33 people.
At least 53 have been injured and it's not known yet how many people may be trapped.
Rescuers are still working at the scene.
But the interior minister Suleyman Soylu said conditions were making it hard for emergency workers - one vehicle had been pulled out from under four to five meters of snow.