One of the most shocking mountaineering tragedies of recent years unfolded in the Vardousia Mountains of Fokida, where four mountaineers lost their lives when they were crushed by an avalanche in a remote location. Rescuers found them buried under the snow, at a very short distance from each other, almost embraced, depicting the surprise and speed with which the tragedy unfolded.
Behind the numbers and operational data, there are four people with a common passion for mountaineering, dreams and personal journeys, who paid with their lives for their love of nature.
Thanasis Kolotouros: The experienced mountaineer from Lechaino
Shock and deep sadness has been caused in the community of Elis by the death of Thanasis Kolotouros, 55 years old, originally from Lechaino. The unfortunate mountaineer was particularly experienced and known in mountaineering circles for the many demanding climbs he had completed over the years.
Thanasis Kolotouros was found unconscious buried under the avalanche, along with three other mountaineers – two men and one woman – in an extremely remote area of mountainous Fokida. The group had started early Thursday morning from the settlement of Athanasios Diakos, aiming for a demanding winter route in Vardousia, but from that moment their traces were lost.
It is shocking that in the same expedition, according to patrisnews.gr, a fifth mountaineer was supposed to participate, a close friend of the 55-year-old, who ultimately couldn’t make it due to professional obligations. It was he who, when his friends showed no signs of life, notified the authorities, narrowly avoiding adding another name to the list of victims.
Giorgos Domalis: The team leader
According to information, the leader of the mountaineering team was Giorgos Domalis, a man with great experience in the mountains, who knew the specific route well. As his friends mentioned, he maintained a house in the village of Athanasios Diakos and frequently made climbs in the area.
Dimitris Teravanis, a friend of the mountaineers, had stated on ERT, referring to Giorgos Domalis and the group’s expedition: “One of the guys rents a house in the village. He is an experienced mountaineer and together with two friends they went up the mountain.” Another mountaineer mentioned: “I went up to the shelters, the snow was very deep yesterday, up to the second shelter it was up to the knee.”
The unfortunate Giorgos Domalis was a graduate of the Computer Engineering Department of the University of Patras and had co-founded companies focused on innovation in commerce, utilizing artificial intelligence applications.
Konstantinos Patikas: The technology enthusiast and extreme sports lover
Among the victims was also Konstantinos Patikas, who worked at a programming company.
According to information, he had a strong love for extreme sports and adventure, and often shared moments from his activities, even through a YouTube channel.
Theodora Kaplani: The teacher who loved nature
Unspeakable sadness has spread in Trikala and especially in Fotada due to the death of Theodora Kaplani, 31 years old, an educator, who was swept away by the deadly avalanche in Vardousia.
Theodora Kaplani, originally from Fotada in Trikala, worked as a substitute teacher in Nafplio. Friends and relatives speak of a woman with rare character, deep love for education and dedication to her students. For her, the mountain was not simply a recreational activity, but a way of life and inner balance.
The timeline of the tragedy in Vardousia Mountains
The four mountaineers started their climb on Thursday morning from the village of Athanasios Diakos, aiming for a demanding route in Vardousia. Their vehicle was located, while their traces abruptly disappeared at a point just before the peak of Korakas, where the mountain terrain becomes particularly dangerous, with steep slopes and vertical passages.
The possibility of an avalanche was seriously considered from the first hours, as the snow was fresh and reached up to the knee. The searches were conducted under extremely difficult conditions, with low temperatures, limited visibility and high altitude. Dozens of firefighters, EMAK mountaineering teams, volunteer rescuers and drones with thermal cameras participated in the operation.
