A huge avalanche has hit a group of 33 climbers in Russia’s northern Caucasus, near Mt. Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak. It left at least 11 dead.
The slide swept down Mount Mizhirgi (also spelled Mejhergi), one of the highest peaks in the Kabardino-Balkaria Mountains, at around 5 pm on Sunday, CNN reported. It struck the climbers at around 5,000m.
Ten people managed to escape and made it down by their own means, but 11 have been confirmed dead. Six others are still missing; another six were injured and were airlifted to hospitals, Anna Piunova of Mountain Club reported.
Search operations are ongoing, with some 50 rescuers involved, but the work is hampered by difficult terrain and the risk of further avalanches.
Alexander Davydov, a helicopter pilot, caught the avalanche on video:
