Item: Avalanches in Bulgaria - human and nature perspective
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Title: Avalanches in Bulgaria - human and nature perspective
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings 2018, Innsbruck, Austria
Authors:
- Momchil P. Panayotov [ University of Forestry, Sofia, Bulgaria ] [ Bulgarian Extreme and FreeSkiing Organization (BEFSA) ]
Date: 2018-10-07
Abstract: Avalanches were recognized as disturbance in the alpine and subalpine environment in Bulgaria. However, before the 1930s mostly forest workers were interested in the phenomena due to forest damages and accidental death of personnel. In few periods with high avalanche activity which caused damages in forests there was scientific attention and reports. However, newer development of remote sensing techniques provides affordable opportunities to better study the importance of avalanches as forest disturbance. After the development of the tourist movement in the 20th century encounters of people with avalanches frequented and lead to several tragic accidents. Attention in avalanches increased after a tragic event in 1965, when 11 mountaineers were killed in a single accident close to Malyovitsa peak in the Rila Mountains. For the whole period of records (1930s to present) a total of 99 avalanche accidents were recorded with above 230 people involved, of which 60 fatalities. In recent decades the raise in the number of freeride skiers and snowboarders lead to higher incident rate. In these groups were recorded 75% of all 58 accidents involving 108 people after 2000. Most of the successful rescues of completely buried people were due to quick and adequate reaction of people on the scene. Only few of the organized rescue operations resulted in digging out alive people, although several of those cases were remarkable. The data although limited and preliminary demonstrates high importance of proper reaction in avalanches and especially of adequate companion rescue.
Object ID: ISSW2018_O13.5.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: avalanches, Bulgaria, forests, human accidents
Page Number(s): 1213-1215
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