At least 11 hikers are dead and six others remain missing after a deadly mountain disaster struck a group of climbers in North Caucasus region.
The incident happened Sunday, Sept. 6, when an avalanche struck a group of 33 mountaineers around 5 p.m. local time on Mount Mizhirgi in the Kabardino-Balkaria region.
Six hikers were injured in the disaster, while 10 members of the group managed to descend the mountain on their own by the following morning.
By Monday morning, rescuers had still been unable to locate six members of the group. More than 50 rescue personnel were involved in the search operation in the Bezengi Gorge.
The rescue effort has been particularly difficult because of the rugged mountain terrain and the continuing threat of additional avalanches. A larger rescue team was waiting at an alpine camp to be transported by helicopter when weather conditions allowed.
Mount Mizhirgi is one of the highest peaks in the North Caucasus. Its western summit reaches approximately 16,558 feet, while the eastern summit stands at about 16,165 feet.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disaster. The Prosecutor General’s Office of Kabardino-Balkaria is investigating the deadly incident.
As rescue teams continue searching the mountain, the fate of the six missing hikers remains unknown.