3 hikers rescued in northwestern Turkey ski resort

By Sergen Sezgin and Mustafa Bikec

BURSA, Turkey (AA) - A group of three hikers stranded in northwestern Turkey's famed Uludag ski center were rescued on Monday morning, according to a paramilitary source.

Huseyin Karal, Cengiz Konuk and Abdullah Taner were stranded near Bakacak watchtower, located 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the resort, after they left for hiking on Sunday afternoon.

The hikers were forced to spend a night out in the cold and survived after building a shelter out of snow and lighting a fire.

Gendarmerie search and rescue teams, Disaster and Emergency Management Agency and local Nilufer search and rescue teams had been unable to reach them due to unfavorable weather conditions.

A military helicopter was used to reach the group early Monday morning, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said, adding that the group was later shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.