Avalanche kills 11 climbers on Russia's Mount Mizhirgi

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An avalanche on Mount Mizhirgi in Russia's Kabardino-Balkaria killed 11 climbers on September 6. Six climbers were hospitalized with injuries, and six remain missing. Rescue operations continue amid difficult terrain and ongoing avalanche danger.
Key Facts
- The avalanche struck a group of 33 climbers on Mount Mizhirgi in the Bezengi Gorge on the evening of September 6.
- Eleven climbers died, six were hospitalized with injuries, and ten descended independently.
- Six climbers remain missing, and search operations involve the Elbrus high-mountain rescue team and a Mi-8 helicopter.
- Initial reports mentioned 15 climbers, two dead, and three injured before the toll was revised upward.
Avalanche and Casualties
The avalanche occurred on Mount Mizhirgi in the Bezengi Gorge, Kabardino-Balkaria, on the evening of September 6. A group of 33 climbers was caught under the snow mass. Eleven climbers died, six were hospitalized with injuries, and ten managed to descend on their own. The fate of six climbers remains unknown.
Rescue Operations
Rescuers from the Elbrus high-mountain search and rescue team are working at the site. The search operation is complicated by difficult mountainous terrain and ongoing avalanche danger. A Mi-8 helicopter of the Russian Emergencies Ministry has been deployed to assist.
Revised Casualty Figures
Initially, rescuers reported a group of 15 climbers, two dead, and three injured. The number of victims increased sharply after information was clarified.