After a search and rescue operation that lasted almost 24 hours, rescue teams managed to approach the two climbers who have been missing on Voras Mountains – Kajmakcalan – at the borders across Greece and FYROM since Saturday noon. The bodies of a 26-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man were located in an inaccessible part of the mountain in the prefecture of Pella, west Macedonia. Media report that they were FYROM nationals on a mountain hike trip. Their death was confirmed by the Fire Service, local media report.

According to media information, the two climbers were hiking together with a group of some 50 people. At some point, they separated form the group, apparently they lost their orientation due to severe weather conditions.

Their co-climbers tried to locate them but in vain. They alerted authorities through the European emergency line <112>.

Local fire brigades as well as the disaster response unit of EMAK launched a big Search & Rescue operation together with volunteers of the Ski Center in the area.

Rescuers had reportedly contact with the 35-year-old climber until 8 o’ clock Saturday evening.

The operation continued over night, the bodies were located around 11 a.m. Sunday morning, at a distance of 30 meters away from each other.

The climbers were warned by the ski center to not go for a hike due to the severe weather conditions on Saturday morning, media report.

A member of the fire service involved in the S&R team told state broadcaster ERT that they were informed about the accident with two two and a half hours delay. “Crucial time for the rescue was lost,” he said.

More than 25 people were participating in the S&R operation.

There was a snow storm and temperatures below zero in the area over night.

The bodies are to be transferred to the hospital of the city of Edessa