More than 200 tourists rescued from cars after massive snowstorm buries road in Argentina

More than 200 tourists rescued from cars after massive snowstorm buries road in Argentina It took emergency responders almost 24 hours to clear the snow and rescue trapped tourists from frozen cars - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments More than 200 people have been rescued from a 4,500 metre-high volcano viewpoint in Argentina after becoming trapped in a powerful snowstorm. Footage circulating on social media shows a column of trucks stopped in their tracks and buried in snow, with only the roofs and parts of the windshields still visible. As the storm intensified, the tourists sought refuge inside their vehicles - but the weather conditions turned more and more “challenging” by the hour, delaying the rescue operation from Balcon del Pissis, in the Catamarca Province. Balcon del Pissis is a major tourist spot, boasting spectacular views of the Andes Mountains. Emergency responders equipped with specialised snow vehicles, heavy machinery and even drones were deployed to the access road leading to the observation deck. Scattered in various sections were more than 30 vehicles, local media reported. It took rescuers almost 24 hours to clear the snow and extract every trapped tourist, after the alarm was sounded on Tuesday afternoon. As nightfall approached, the rescue operation was also temporarily suspended, forcing people to spend the night shivering in their trucks in freezing temperatures. “Weather and terrain conditions remain extremely challenging,” the local municipality of Fiambala said in an update on Wednesday, more than 15 hours after emergency services were deployed. “In this context, the possibility of air evacuations to assist the families remaining at kilometre 29 is not ruled out, should operational conditions require it.” Another announcement from several hours later confirmed that drones from the National Gendarmerie and a helicopter from the province of Salta will join teams on the ground to help access hard-to-reach areas. Mayor of Fiambala, Raul Usqueda, who travelled to the mountain region to supervise the rescue, confirmed that every person was rescued on Wednesday afternoon. Two people were hospitalised with hypothermia. Usqueda said: “Today marked the conclusion of one of the most significant rescue operations in the history of our mountain range. “Thanks to dedication, planning, and teamwork, hundreds of people were able to return safely to their families.” Describing the operation as “one of the toughest challenges” in the history of the municipality, he further praised the “hero” rescuers for “setting aside their own fatigue, the cold, and the risks” and prioritising the lives of others. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments