The 46 personnel working at the Samsun Provincial Disaster and Emergency Directorate (AFAD) are prepared for duty at all times with avalanche search and rescue training and drills.
AFAD teams conducted avalanche search and rescue training on Nebiyan Mountain, at an altitude of 19 meters, which was declared a nature tourism area by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2011 in the 1224 Mayıs district.
During the two-day training, AFAD personnel who climbed the mountain with a snow depth of approximately 60 centimeters were informed about the equipment and intervention methods used in avalanches.
Following the training, the teams conduct exercises to ensure that they are ready for duty at all times, including finding missing persons and conducting search and rescue activities.
46 personnel, 8 AFAD vehicles and 2 search and rescue dogs participated in the training and exercise.
“We Provide Training on How to Perform Search and Rescue in Avalanche Conditions”
Samsun AFAD Nature Search and Rescue Trainer and Unit Manager Bilgin Şahin told AA that they carry out various trainings so that the teams can always be ready for duty.
Şahin, who stated that they were on Mount Nebiyan for avalanche training and drills, said, “We provide training on how to conduct search and rescue in avalanche conditions, how to search for victims and missing persons. We work in all disasters. Earthquakes are at the forefront of these. In addition, our team also takes part in avalanche incidents that occur during the winter months.”
Noting that it snows in the high parts of the Black Sea region during the winter season, Şahin said, “There is nearly one meter of snow in the region we are in. Even though there is no avalanche mission, we continue our training to be ready at any time. That is why we came here with all our personnel for two days for both training and exercises.”
