(사진제공=AP통신)
(사진제공=AP통신)
(사진제공=AP통신)
[요세미티 국립공원=AP/KNS뉴스통신] 관광객들이 요세미티 국립공원의 폭포 옆에서 사진을 찍으려고 포즈를 취하다가 추락사한 사건이 발생했다.
이들 희생자는 캘리포니아에 정착한 중동 이민자출신의 기독교도로 알려졌다.
19일 이들 희생자들은 버날 폭포위에 새워진 바리케이드를 넘어가 급류에 휩쓸렸다. 또 다른 사람이 그들을 구출하려고 손을 내밀면서 그 남자도 따라 휩쓸린 것이다.
이들 그룹의 나머지 사람들은 세 사람이 급류에 떠내려가는 것을 그냥 바라보고 있을 수밖에 없었다.
한편 바리케이드를 넘어가면 위험하다는 몇 개국 언어로 된 경고판이 세워져 있었고, 다른 등산객들이 강으로 들어가면 급류에 휩쓸린다고 외치면서 그들을 만류했었다고 한다.
20일 구호대가 사망한 것으로 추정되는 이들의 시신을 찾기 위해 수색을 계속하고 있는 것으로 알려졌다.
(영문기사 원문)
Authorities: 3 swept over waterfall presumed dead
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, California (AP) — Young tourists above one of Yosemite National Park's beautiful and perilous waterfalls were trying to pose for a picture. Instead they burned a horrifying image into the memories of everyone who saw.
The victims were part of a close-knit community of Christians from the Middle East who have been settling in California's Central Valley during the past century.
A man and a woman crossed a metal barricade above the 317-foot (96.6-meter) Vernal Fall on Tuesday, making their way over slick granite to a rock in the middle of the swift Merced River.
The woman slipped. The man reached for her and fell in. Another man in their group of about 10 tried to help but fell into the water as well. Other hikers, including several children in their group, could only watch as the rushing water swept all three students over the edge.
Signs in several languages warn people not to cross the barricade, and other hikers had shouted that it wasn't safe to go into the rushing river.
The three students are presumed dead; rescuers continued searching for their bodies Wednesday. The Yosemite Search and Rescue unit identified them as Hormiz David, 22; Ninos Yacoub, 27; and Ramina Badal, 21.
They were members of the Mar Gewargis Parish in Ceres, California, where a prayer service was planned Wednesday evening. The church is part of the Assyrian Church of the East.
AP통신 http://www.ap.org
