Avalanches kill 10 in mountainous area near Iran's capital

A series of avalanches in Iran killed 10 people in a mountainous area north of the capital, state TV reported on Sunday. The report said rescue teams were searching for a number of missing people after the avalanches struck in four different areas.

A series of avalanches in Iran killed 10 people in a mountainous area north of the capital, state TV reported on Sunday. The report said rescue teams were searching for a number of missing people after the avalanches struck in four different areas. State TV aired footage of emergency crews using a helicopter to search for those missing and injured.

The incidents happened on Friday following strong winds and snowfall a day earlier. The Alborz mountain range where the avalanches struck is popular on weekends for its hiking and climbing. Deadly avalanches are a rare phenomenon in Iran. In 2017, two avalanches killed 11 hikers.