Two women from Asturias were rescued by helicopter on Saturday evening, 29 August 2026, in the Picos de Europa National Park . According to the emergency coordination centre 112 Cantabria they called for help at around 20:00 after losing their way on the route between Tresviso and the Casetón de Ándara in the Macizo de Ándara . The Cantabrian regional government’s rescue helicopter (Gobierno de Cantabria) located the women and picked them up in difficult terrain. Both women, aged 51 and 60, were responsive and unharmed; they were checked at the scene and did not need to be taken to hospital.
The rescue teams followed the procedure commonly used in the region: coordination through 112 Cantabria, aerial searches of the sectors and winch recovery in steep terrain. The operation continued into the evening and night as visibility on the high-altitude route varied. The emergency coordination centre had no further information about how long the women had been in the area.
The authorities place the incident within the known risk profile of the route between Tresviso and the Casetón de Ándara. The section in the Macizo de Ándara is considered challenging; fog, rapid weather changes and confusing karst terrain make navigation difficult. The National Park Picos de Europa and regional rescue services regularly emphasise preventive measures such as careful route planning, allowing enough daylight, carrying suitable equipment and checking the latest weather information.
Facts: According to 112 Cantabria, two women from Asturias, aged 51 and 60, were airlifted on 29 August 2026 from between Tresviso and the Casetón de Ándara in the Picos de Europa National Park; the emergency call came in at around 20:00, and both women were well. Attributed information: Details on visibility and terrain, as well as the precise winch procedure, come from statements by the emergency coordination centre and the compiled information on the operation from the Gobierno de Cantabria. Outlook and assessment: The incident is likely to reinforce the ongoing safety advice issued by rescue services in Cantabria and Asturias. On the busy summer routes in the Picos de Europa, the advice remains to take a cautious view of route classifications and weather windows, and to call 112 for help promptly if disorientation sets in.
The operation took place mainly in terrain on the Cantabrian side of the national park; no involvement of other services beyond coordination between emergency centres was reported.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).