A rescue operation in the Pirin Mountains ended in tragedy after a missing tourist was found dead following a two-day search in difficult terrain near Vihren Peak, authorities said.
The discovery was made possible after hikers in the Koncheto area heard a dog barking in the mountains and alerted the Mountain Rescue Service in Bansko. The signal helped guide rescuers toward the location where the woman’s body was later found. The search involved a helicopter from the Air Force, drones, and coordination with mobile operators.
Pamela Kaczmarek and her partner, who were hiking in the area, described how the sound led them to act quickly. “When the ropes run out and the climb to Banski Suhodol peak begins, at this very place we suddenly heard something like a dog barking twice, but then silence,” she said. “We decided that we should notify the rescue service… at the exact moment we called we heard a dog barking again and we were already sure.”
Mountain rescue officials said the teams initially struggled to locate the victim despite the use of drones, with additional input from mobile network data helping narrow the search area.
Alexander Veskov, head of the rescue service, confirmed the coordination effort. “So we headed for a search operation. Unfortunately, nothing could be found with the drone, the mobile operators from the phone gave directions,” he said.
