Three people died on Elbrus from a group of climbers who requested the help of rescuers.
This was reported by TASS with reference to the press service of the Emergencies Ministry.
The department said that rescuers found a group that asked for help.
“Out of 19 people, we know for sure that 14 people are alive, now the rescuers are lowering them.
Two more people - we know where they are, we know that they are alive, now rescuers are making their way to them.
There is a great hope that they will be alive, ”said Mikhail Nadezhin, head of the RF Ministry of Emergency Situations in Kabardino-Balkaria.
He also clarified that the climbers received severe frostbite and injuries.
“It is known that almost everyone has severe frostbite.
Some have limb fractures.
"Disaster medicine" now meets them at an altitude of almost 4 thousand meters, "Nadezhin said.
He added that 12 more ambulances are on duty at the foot, in the Azau glade.
The Ministry of Health of the KBR said that the condition of eight climbers is assessed as moderate.
In turn, the deputy head of the Elbrus high-mountain search and rescue squad (EVPSO) of the Russian Emergencies Ministry Albert Khadzhiev clarified that the last two climbers are alive and are at an altitude of about 5200 m - 5250 m. He noted that their descent will take an hour and a half.
The EVPSO also reported that they are unconscious on the slope, they are planned to be lowered on a snowcat.
The press service of the head and government of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic noted that a headquarters was organized in the area of the incident with tourists.
“The head of the KBR is informed about the incident, the situation is under his constant control.
All operational services are involved, a headquarters has been organized on the spot, as well as the Ministry of Health, the administration of the Elbrus region is also in place, ”the press service said.
According to a TASS source, the group of climbers who requested assistance due to bad weather consisted of people over 30 years old, they came from 11 regions to take part in the ascent.
Search and rescue operation to rescue a group of climbers
© 07.mchs.gov.ru
The North Caucasus Regional Search and Rescue Team clarified that climbers arrived from St. Petersburg, Yakutia, Tyumen, Chelyabinsk, Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Togliatti and Novorossiysk.
In turn, a TASS source clarified that all climbers included in the group are not professionals, they took part in the ascent as amateurs.
He also noted that the group could violate the terms in which climbers must climb to the top - for example, the descent should begin no later than lunchtime, this is the time when the weather in the mountains often deteriorates.
The source noted that the height from which the group requested assistance is 5400 m.
“At 17:10 on September 23, the Central Administration of Emergency Situations of Russia for the KBR received a message that on Mount Elbrus, an altitude of 5400 meters, a group of 23 climbers, due to worsening weather conditions, asked for help,” the Ministry of Emergency Situations said.
According to the ministry, climbers asked for help after the worsening weather on the mountain.
It is noted that they registered their route in advance with the Russian Emergencies Ministry.
The department also emphasized that the search for climbers was complicated by difficult weather conditions - a blizzard was recorded in the region with gusts of wind up to 40 m / s, a temperature of -20 ° C, and the visibility in the search area was no more than 1 m.
They also reported that the head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for the KBR had left for the place of emergency.
The head of the Elbrus high-mountain search and rescue squad (EVPSO) of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Abdullah Guliyev clarified that first the rescuers reached three climbers, they showed signs of frostbite.
“The group consisted of 23 people, but 19 people went up the mountain.
This is a group gathered from all over Russia.
Two guides and 17 participants, ”he said.
In turn, the deputy head of the EVPSO Albert Khadzhiev noted that the search for the group was complicated by the fact that the participants were in different places.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations also said that the guide who accompanied the climbers abandoned the group.
“The guide who brought people up the mountain, threw them and went down, we met him on the way,” - said a representative of the rescue team.
The Investigative Committee organized a pre-investigation check into the death of the climbers.
“Investigators of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for KBR are conducting a pre-investigation check on information about the death of climbers while climbing Elbrus as part of a group,” the department said.