A group of British hikers is today counting their blessings after a volcano erupted beneath them in a remote part of the world, forcing a desperate scramble for safety. The six-strong team, led by experienced mountaineer James Whitmore from Cumbria, were traversing a glacier on Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey when the ground began to tremble violently. Within minutes, a fissure opened, spewing ash and molten rock. Two of the group suffered burns, but all are now safely evacuated, thanks to a combination of quick thinking and sheer luck.
The eruption, which occurred at 14:23 local time, caught the hikers completely off guard. There had been no warnings from the Turkish geological survey, though the mountain is listed as dormant. Whitmore, 47, described the moments as terrifying. “The ice beneath us cracked like glass. One second we were walking, the next we were running for our lives.” The group managed to reach a ridge and radio for help. A Turkish military helicopter extracted them two hours later.
Dr. Rachel Hibbert, a volcanologist at the University of Leeds, said: “This was an incredibly rare event. The mountain was thought to be inactive, but seismic activity elsewhere may have triggered a small, localised eruption.” The hikers were treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation at a local hospital. One, Sarah Jenkins no relation to me, a 34-year-old teacher from Manchester, said: “We are lucky to be alive. The NHS should be proud of its staff, but the cost of such a rescue abroad will hit our savings hard.”
The incident has reignited the debate over the cost of adventure travel insurance. Premiums have risen by 20pc since last year, and many policies exclude volcanic events. “It’s a postcode lottery,” said consumer advocate Helen Walsh. “People are paying more but getting less cover.” The group’s travel insurance is being reviewed, but initial reports suggest they may face bills of up to £50,000 for the helicopter evacuation.
Union leaders have also weighed in. Sharon Foster of the TUC said: “This shows how workers on the front line endure stressful jobs without the safety net they deserve. We are calling for mandatory insurance standards for outdoor workers.” The hikers, who were on a charity trek for a children’s hospice, have since returned to the UK. They plan to continue fundraising, with a special focus on improving safety standards for amateur adventurers.
