Avalanche disaster in Van! Here are the images served from the region.

02.01.2026 13:23

Gülnaz Bitik, who was trapped under an avalanche in the Çatak district of Van and rescued with injuries, could not be saved despite all medical interventions, while her mother and two children trapped under the avalanche were rescued alive. Footage from the area showed teams working diligently under heavy snowfall.

In the Çatak district of Van, it was reported that one person is missing due to an avalanche, while 22 houses were evacuated. Gülnaz Bitik, 61, who was trapped under the avalanche, passed away in the hospital despite all interventions, while her mother and two children were rescued alive. Footage from the region showed moments when teams raced against time to rescue citizens trapped under the snow.

While snowfall was effective in the Çatak district of Van, an avalanche fell on a house in the Bahçelievler neighborhood in the morning hours. Upon notification, gendarmerie, AFAD, UKME, and fire brigade teams were dispatched to the area. Teams began working to rescue a woman trapped under the avalanche in the house. After approximately two hours of work, the woman was rescued injured. She was taken to Çatak State Hospital for treatment.

20 HOUSES EVACUATED

A total of 22 houses in the area were evacuated as a precaution against avalanche danger. Van Governor Ozan Balcı stated that families living in the houses were placed in school dormitories in the district as a precaution, and that precautionary teams continued their work in the region.

MOTHER AND 2 CHILDREN RESCUED

Gülnaz Bitik (61), who was taken to the hospital, could not be saved despite the doctors' efforts. Houses in the neighborhood continue to be evacuated due to risk. So far, 113 people have been evacuated from the region. Citizens are being placed in various dormitories and guesthouses in the district. Additionally, a crisis desk was established in Çatak under the leadership of District Governor Kadir Kılıç. The mother and her two children trapped under the avalanche were rescued as a result of the teams' efforts.

Here are images from the scene;