11 people are confirmed dead and another six injured after an massive avalanche struck a group of climbers in Russia’s Kabardino-Balkaria region in the North Caucasus. The avalanche swept down Mount Mizhirgi (elevation 16,466 feet) at around 5:00pm local time on Sunday. 33 climbers were in its path.
As of today at 9:00am local time, 10 climbers had made their own way down the mountain, six others remain missing. A Russian Emergencies Ministry Mi-8 helicopter was deployed to evacuate the victims. Search and rescue operations have involved over 50 emergency workers and have been complicated by the rugged terrain and risk of additional avalanches.
Located in the central Caucasus, the region is known for its high peaks, glaciers, and challenging climbing routes, and is referred to as the “Little Himalayas” by Russian climbers. This is a developing situation and we will be sure to update when additional information is available. Our thoughts are with the victims’ families and friends.
