SWITZERLAND: AT LEAST 18 KILLED IN RIVER 'CANYONING' TRAGEDY (5)
821 بار بازدید -
9 سال پیش
-
(28 Jul 1999) German/Eng/Nat
(28 Jul 1999) German/Eng/Nat
At least 18 people seeking the thrills of an Alpine river adventure in the Swiss Alps drowned when a flash flood swelled a mountain stream into a deadly, tree-ripping torrent.
The dead were from Britain, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland.
Two of the dead were reportedly guides from Adventure World, the tour's organisers.
Early reports that there was one American among the dead turned out to be false.
More than 150 police and rescue experts were involved in Wednesday's search for three people still missing and feared dead.
Six people - from New Zealand and Australia - were injured, including one seriously.
Four of the victims were women.
Identification of the dead is likely take days because the adventurers had stripped off all personal items before donning their life jackets and helmets.
The accident on Tuesday near the central Alpine resort of Interlaken was believed the worst ever to hit the sport of canyoning, in which participants slide, jump or rappel down waterfalls and mountain streams into gorges without rafts.
Also taking part in the trip were tourists from the United States and Canada, but officials indicated that no North Americans were among the missing or injured.
Investigators said it was impossible to tell immediately whether the dead had drowned or had been killed by striking rocks and debris as they hurtled along in flood waters.
SOUNDBITE: (German)
"53 people (the group) went there to the rapids. They came form Australia, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, Switzerland, South Africa and the United States. Eighteen people are dead, six are in hospital and three are still missing. For the three person who are missing we have seen one of them. One body could be seen at 11 this morning (0900 GMT). The list of participants of this expedition can only be given when everything can be confirmed. And this list will take a little time."
SUPER CAPTION: Stefan Blater, Berne Police
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The victims come from Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Switzerland and South Africa. (Question: Can you say the number which came from Great Britain?) No, we can't tell this for the moment because the victims have to be identified first."
SUPER CAPTION: Mark Trapp, Local Investigator
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The process of identification will take days if not weeks, because it has to be done without any mistakes."
SUPER CAPTION: Mark Trapp, Local Investigator
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Six people, six blest (he means injured) people were brought to the hospital of Interlaken. Five people were only lightly hurt and one person had head injuries and these persons come from Australia and New Zealand. (Question: All six?) Yes."
SUPER CAPTION: Mark Trapp, Local Investigator
SOUNDBITE: (German)
"I would like to take the opportunity to say that it was a tragic accident and this is absolutely a catastrophic event, the biggest in this profession. It is especially a catastrophe for our guests to whom we normally give enjoyment. They wanted to enjoy this time and the sightseeing. We wish to apologise to the families and to the authorities of this region. And we are speechless."
SUPER CAPTION: Georg Hoedle, Adventure World
SOUNDBITE: (German)
"After six years we have put 36-thousand people on the river and this is the first time we have had this kind of accident."
SUPER CAPTION: Georg Hoedle, Adventure World
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At least 18 people seeking the thrills of an Alpine river adventure in the Swiss Alps drowned when a flash flood swelled a mountain stream into a deadly, tree-ripping torrent.
The dead were from Britain, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland.
Two of the dead were reportedly guides from Adventure World, the tour's organisers.
Early reports that there was one American among the dead turned out to be false.
More than 150 police and rescue experts were involved in Wednesday's search for three people still missing and feared dead.
Six people - from New Zealand and Australia - were injured, including one seriously.
Four of the victims were women.
Identification of the dead is likely take days because the adventurers had stripped off all personal items before donning their life jackets and helmets.
The accident on Tuesday near the central Alpine resort of Interlaken was believed the worst ever to hit the sport of canyoning, in which participants slide, jump or rappel down waterfalls and mountain streams into gorges without rafts.
Also taking part in the trip were tourists from the United States and Canada, but officials indicated that no North Americans were among the missing or injured.
Investigators said it was impossible to tell immediately whether the dead had drowned or had been killed by striking rocks and debris as they hurtled along in flood waters.
SOUNDBITE: (German)
"53 people (the group) went there to the rapids. They came form Australia, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, Switzerland, South Africa and the United States. Eighteen people are dead, six are in hospital and three are still missing. For the three person who are missing we have seen one of them. One body could be seen at 11 this morning (0900 GMT). The list of participants of this expedition can only be given when everything can be confirmed. And this list will take a little time."
SUPER CAPTION: Stefan Blater, Berne Police
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The victims come from Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Switzerland and South Africa. (Question: Can you say the number which came from Great Britain?) No, we can't tell this for the moment because the victims have to be identified first."
SUPER CAPTION: Mark Trapp, Local Investigator
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The process of identification will take days if not weeks, because it has to be done without any mistakes."
SUPER CAPTION: Mark Trapp, Local Investigator
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Six people, six blest (he means injured) people were brought to the hospital of Interlaken. Five people were only lightly hurt and one person had head injuries and these persons come from Australia and New Zealand. (Question: All six?) Yes."
SUPER CAPTION: Mark Trapp, Local Investigator
SOUNDBITE: (German)
"I would like to take the opportunity to say that it was a tragic accident and this is absolutely a catastrophic event, the biggest in this profession. It is especially a catastrophe for our guests to whom we normally give enjoyment. They wanted to enjoy this time and the sightseeing. We wish to apologise to the families and to the authorities of this region. And we are speechless."
SUPER CAPTION: Georg Hoedle, Adventure World
SOUNDBITE: (German)
"After six years we have put 36-thousand people on the river and this is the first time we have had this kind of accident."
SUPER CAPTION: Georg Hoedle, Adventure World
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: Twitter: AP_Archive
Facebook: Facebook: APArchives
Instagram: Instagram: APNews
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
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