The adverse weather conditions in Isparta caused difficult moments in the plateau. While the landslide that occurred after the snow and blizzard left two shepherds stranded with their herds, the region became the scene of a rescue operation in a race against time.
SNOW, Blizzard and LANDSLIDE CLOSED THE ROAD
In the incident that took place on the Sultan Mountains plateau within the borders of Yarıkkaya village of Yalvaç district, shepherds Bilal Akpınar and Ömer Şahin, along with approximately 650 sheep, were stranded due to heavy snowfall and blizzard.
During the investigations, it was determined that due to the rain, a landslide occurred in an area of approximately 300 meters, the road collapsed and access to the plateau was cut off.
TEAMS AND VILLAGERS WERE MOBILIZED
Upon notice, AFAD and Special Provincial Administration teams were dispatched to the region. A group of 15 people from Yarıkkaya village entered the difficult terrain with 3 tractors and reached the stranded shepherds.
The teams and villagers provided first aid by delivering hay and food to the shepherds and animals.
THEY WERE RESCUE 30 HOURS LATER
Work was intensified as the herd could not be taken down from the plateau due to the road being closed. Road opening works started in the morning and continued throughout the day. After the road was repaired in the evening, the shepherds and the herd were safely delivered to the village approximately 30 hours later.
9 ANIMALS DESTROYED
There were also losses in the herd due to difficult weather conditions. Shepherds stated that 9 small cattle perished.
“WE SPARED THE MORNING BY THE FIRE”
Describing the moments when they were stranded, Bilal Akpınar conveyed the difficult night they experienced with the following words:
“During the blizzard, we locked our sheep in the courtyard. We went into the tent and could not go out. We lit a fire until the morning. We spent the morning by the fire, drinking tea in the cold.”
Village residents who participated in the rescue efforts emphasized that the incident was one of the best examples of solidarity and thanked all the teams and citizens who contributed.
