Andorra Firefighters Rescue 7 Tourists, Including 5 Kids, from Storm in Encamp

Andorra's firefighters rescued seven tourists—five minors and two monitors—from a storm-swept area near the Pessons Circle in Encamp during the early hours of Monday.

The distress call arrived at 1:45 a.m. as the group, hiking toward Refugi de l'Illa, found themselves soaked and freezing amid severe weather. A mountain rescue team climbed on foot, located the frightened hikers around 3 a.m., and escorted them safely back to Grau Roig. The tourists had abandoned some gear in panic but were otherwise uninjured. The duty chief described the outing as imprudent given the storm forecasts, pointing to a common failure among hikers to check weather predictions, terrain difficulty, and distance beforehand. He stressed the need for proper equipment and basic planning, noting that such lapses endanger rescuers.

The service could incur charges under the Department of Fire Prevention, Extinction, and Rescue's regulations on tariffs, which allow billing for imprudent calls at roughly €35 per specialist firefighter per hour. In colder conditions or harder terrain, a nighttime helicopter might have been required.

Separately, two local residents lost their bearings in fog on Pic del Casamanya in Ordino at 9:20 p.m. Sunday. Poorly equipped for their quick outing, they followed phone guidance from rescuers and descended without assistance.

The duty chief again warned hikers to consult forecasts and prepare adequately before mountain trips. Further details on potential costs or investigations remain pending.