At least 11 mountaineers have been killed in a devastating avalanche in Russia’s North Caucasus region, while six others were injured, local emergency authorities said, according to CNN.
The avalanche struck Mount Mizhirgi in the Kabardino-Balkaria region at around 5 p.m. local time on Sunday, September 6. A group of 33 mountaineers was in the area at the time.
Emergency officials said that by 9 a.m. Monday, 10 members of the group had managed to make their way down the mountain on their own. However, six others remained unaccounted for.
Difficult Rescue Operation
More than 50 rescuers have been deployed to search for the missing climbers. However, the operation has been hampered by the remote and rugged terrain, as well as the risk of further avalanches.
Mount Mizhirgi is one of the highest peaks in Russia’s North Caucasus. Harsh weather conditions and the mountain’s difficult terrain have made the rescue operation particularly dangerous, authorities said.
