[size=75:36l6bd4a]Sofia echo 31 January 2010

Rescuers searching for injured UK tourists in Pamporovo


Two British tourists were reported missing near the Stroikite slopes in Bulgaria’s ski resort of Pamporovo, in the Rhodope Mountains, Bulgarian media reported on January 31 2010.

A Mountain Rescue Service unit (PSS) based in Smolyan has been sent to the area. The two women, who are said to be British nationals, cannot be contacted by phone and accounts of their whereabouts are sketchy.

The rescue operation is being hindered by new snowfall and heavy fog. Further information will be made available later.

A parallel rescue operation is in full swing under the summit of Botev 2376m where two mountaineers yesterday were reported injured and immobilised in a steep ravine. The area is an avalanche high-risk zone. Additionally, fresh snowfall has started in the central Stara Planina mountains range which further hinders the rescue operation.

The PSS fear that if they attempt to descend into the ravine to pluck out the climbers, they will trigger an avalanche.

Reportedly, one mountaineer has a broken arm, and the other a broken leg. A nine-strong Mountain Rescue patrol consisting of paramedics and alpine climbers is currently on site. Eight more rescuers are on their way from Lovech and Sopot.

This has been a busy week for the PSS as on January 30 2010, a 34-year-old Bulgarian woman was seriously injured in an avalanche close to the Banderitsa hut near the winter resort of Bansko in the Pirin Mountain.

She had been part of a group which, at about 9am on January 30 2010, left the hut and headed to a nearby Palashitsa area.

The incident happened a day after an avalanche caused the death of young snowboarder in Bansko, and four days after another skier died after hitting a snow cornice on Bansko's Alberto Tomba ski run.

[size=75:hqnoybe9]novnite 31 January 2010

Poor English Leads to Blunder, No Missing UK Tourists in Bulgaria

The search for two allegedly missing UK women near the Bulgarian mountain resort Pamporovo was terminated after it became clear the signal was the result of a blunder.

Rescue teams from the Mountain Rescue Service in Smolyan searched the area around the ski tracks near the village of Stoykite for six hours overnight after they were told by the headquarters of the emergency phone 112 that two British women were lost in the area.

However, no UK tourists were missing, and the signal turned out to be the result of the poor English-language skills of a 112 operator, the Mountain Rescue Service announced Sunday afternoon.

The 112 operator misunderstood the British woman who called asking for an ambulance for a house in the village of Stoykite. Instead, the operator decided that two UK women were lost near the village.

That is why the initial reports said there was an ambulance team searching for the two allegedly missing women.

It is still unclear how the mistaken operator will be punished, or what other measures the management of the emergency phone 112 is going to undertake.