Devastating avalanche disaster leaves dozens dead in Turkey

Successive avalanches in eastern Turkey have killed at least 38 people and trapped dozens more, authorities said, per CNN.

The first avalanche in the Van province, which borders Iran, occurred Tuesday evening, killing five people. In the aftermath, more than 100 rescue workers were reportedly sent to rescue two people still believed to be buried. The second avalanche came down Wednesday during the search, burying rescue teams and killing several members.

Television footage reportedly showed dozens of people using shovels and sticks amid strong winds to dig out buried vehicles, NBC News reports. One vehicle was reportedly recovered from 16 feet of snow.

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The disaster comes less than two weeks after Elazig province, another region in eastern Turkey, was struck by a 6.7-magnitude earthquake which resulted in at least 36 deaths and thousands of injuries.