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Fourth hiker found dead after Corsica landslide

UPDATED: A fourth hiker has been found dead after Wednesday's landslide on the French island of Corsica.

Fourth hiker found dead after Corsica landslide
An emergency crew of 50 was sent to the scene after the landslide. Photo: AFP
The hikers were walking the GR 20 trail – a famous 180-kilometre stretch on the French island of Corsica – when the landslide struck on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Three people were announced dead within hours. Another seven people were injured, one seriously.
 
Emergency crews found a fourth body on Thursday at the bottom of the notorious Circle of Solitude section of the trail, where hikers have to descend a steep rock face assisted only by chains and cables.
 
A 63-year-old Spanish hiker was knocked to the ground by lightning and suffered shock and several cuts and bruises.
 
“That's the end of the holiday. It's awful,” said a young IT worker from Bordeaux, who gave his name as Michel.
 
“We're stopping here and we're going back to Bastia,” the island's capital.
 
The landslide struck high up on the mountain slopes, 1,500 metres above sea level at what is considered to be one of the toughest parts of the trail that stretches from the south of the island to the north.
 

(One of the five helicopters sent to the scene. Photo: AFP)
 
Five helicopters and a team of 50 rescuers and police were sent out after the emergency call came at 3pm. 
 
The area has been hit by violent storms recently, and authorities have shut down the trail until conditions improve.
 
The incident has been labelled by the French media as the worst to hit the trail, which attracts hikers from around the world and usually takes two weeks to complete.

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HIKING

Waldeinsamkeit: Five of the best forest walks around Berlin

Though Berlin is a bustling metropolitan city, you may be surprised to find a number of beautiful forests within touching distance of the capital.

Waldeinsamkeit: Five of the best forest walks around Berlin
picture alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Paul Zinken

Many of you may be feeling a sense of Wanderlust as the weather warms up, and wandern (hiking or rambling) can be a good way to indulge this feeling. 

Spring and summer is the perfect opportunity to venture slightly further out and explore the local natural landscape. 

Grunewald

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Sascha Unger (@sascha_unger)

Grunewald is perhaps the first place you will think of if you’re craving some Waldeinsamkeit (the feeling of solitude in the woods). It is the largest forest close to the city, and can be reached directly by S-Bahn from Alexanderplatz. 

READ ALSO: German word of the day: Die Waldeinsamkeit

From Berlin-Grunewald, on the S7 train line, it is only a five minute walk into the forest. The woods are huge and nestle a number of impressive lakes. One of the best walks is through the scenic Paul-Ernst-Park, which has a footpath encircling the Schlachtensee.

Spandauer Forest

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Martin Ettlinger (@martin_ettlinger_photography)

If you travel just beyond Berlin’s Spandau district, in the west of the city, you will find yourself in Spandauer Forest. This sprawling forest is home to two protected nature reserves and a number of animals you might not expect to encounter so close to the city, such as kingfishers, hawks and beavers. 

The forest is also famous for its range of unusual flora and fauna and as you wander through the woods you may come across an unexpected clearing or meadow in the middle of dense forest. These are great secluded locations for a picnic or rest during your walk. 

Plänterwald 

Just below Treptower Park, you can find the Plänterwald. This is a large forest that follows a stretch of the river and is almost completely cut off from the city, despite being so close to the centre. 

The forest is also home to an abandoned amusement park, the Spreepark, which closed in 2001 and is one of the city’s most famous abandoned attractions. You can still see the ferris wheel looming slightly eerily above the treeline. 

READ ALSO: Enter if you dare: Berlin’s best abandoned haunts

Tegel Forest

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by tip Berlin (@tipberlin)

Northwest of the city, in the Tegel district, you will find an expansive area of forest covering over 2000 hectares of land.

Deep in the forest, you can find what is thought to be Berlin’s oldest tree. Dicke Marie, meaning fat Marie, is the name given to the towering oak tree, which stands at about 26 metres and is thought to be up to 900 years old. 

It is a good idea to start your walk through the forest at the Tegeler Fließ, a stream to the north of the woods where you may be lucky enough to spot some water buffalo grazing. 

Briesetal

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Jochen Adamek (@tronador80)

Just a short walk from S-Bahn Birkenwerder you can find yourself surrounded by centuries-old woodland, as well as lakes and sprawling meadows. There is a circular walk through the woodland starting at the Briesetal forest school; the ‘adventure garden’ at the beginning of the route is a wonderful place for children to explore the nature the forest has to offer. 

This is the perfect area to explore if you want to stay close to the city but also be immersed in nature. The ever changing landscape provides a beautiful escape from city life. 

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