The same road was struck twice in less than 24 hours killing dozens (Picture: Reuters/AFP/Andalou)

At least eight rescue workers have been killed and 20 others buried while attempting to save missing people who were struck by an avalanche in eastern Turkey.

Emergency teams of around 300 people had been called to a road near the mountain-surrounded town of Bahcesehir, in Van province – which borders Iran – after the first avalanche struck on Tuesday night.

As rescue missions were underway, a second avalanche struck the site on Wednesday, killing the rescue workers and burying others alive, said Mayor Meki Arvas.

The first avalanche buried a snow-clearing vehicle and a minibus, which killed five people and left two others missing.


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Turkish soldiers and rescue workers try to rescue people after double avalanche at Bahcesaray district in Van city (Picture: EPA)

The first avalanche on Tuesday night killed five people (Picture: Anadolu)

Rescue teams worked through the night to save others (Picture: Reuters)

Soldiers and locals try to rescue people trapped under the second avalanche which hit on Wednesday (Picture: Reuters)

The second avalanche has killed eight rescue workers while they were searching for people struck by the first (Picture: Anadolu)

The driver, Bahattin Karagulle, and seven passengers managed to escape alive



Mr Karagulle was trapped beneath the snow for around 25 minutes before he managed to break a window and escape, said state-run Anadolu Agency.

He said he walked towards a village before he was picked up by a vehicle and managed to seek help.

Emergency workers were working at the scene in a bid to find the two missing when they were hit by a second powerful avalanche.

Emergency service members carry a casualty at the site of the avalanche (Picture: AP)

Turkish soldiers and rescue workers try to rescue people after double avalanche (Picture: EPA)

Around 20 are feared to have been buried under the second avalanche (Picture: Andalou)

Rescuers had been working through Tuesday night to find the missing people (Picture: Anadolu)

The incidents happened on a mountain-side road in Bahcesehir, in Van province (Picture: Anadolu)

Governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez said 25 emergency service members were rescued from under the snow and taken to hospital.

There was no further information on their conditions.

NTV television reported that fog and heavy snow had already been hampering the rescue efforts before the second avalanche hit.

Around 300 emergency workers had rushed to the scene to find the missing people from the first avalanche (Picture: Anadolu)

Rescue teams were already struggling against the elements with fog and heavy snow hampering efforts (Picture: Anadolu)

The mountainous town is close to the border of Iran (Picture: Anadolu)

Teams were battling against heavy snow to find the missing (Picture: Anadolu)

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