Eleven climbers die in Caucasus avalanche near Georgia border
At least eleven climbers died and six remain missing after a massive avalanche struck a 33-member expedition in the Caucasus Mountains' Bezengi Gorge, Russian emergency officials said on Tuesday.
Criminal negligence probe opened
The snowslide occurred on the slopes of Mount Mizhirgi, the seventh-highest peak in the Caucasus, situated in Kabardino-Balkaria near the border with Georgia. Russian investigators launched a criminal case into suspected safety negligence, assessing whether organizers and participants adhered to mandatory high-altitude safety protocols.
Ten mountaineers descended unaided following the disaster, while six injured survivors were evacuated to local hospitals. Around 60 rescuers and two helicopters, including a Russian Emergency Situations Ministry Mi-8, continue searching for the missing amid rugged terrain and ongoing avalanche risks.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
RELATED COVERAGE
