The route leading to the Teplye ozera tourism site in the Slyudyansky district of the Irkutsk region was temporarily shut to traffic after a rainstorm caused surface conditions to deteriorate. This update came from the press service of the regional headquarters of the Ministry of Emergencies.
According to the publication, the erosion of a dirt road running along the Snezhnaya River in the Slyudyansky district prompted the road closure as a precaution while authorities assess travel safety and the ability of vehicles to pass through the area.
Officials stressed that the rain-induced floods and unstable road surfaces required careful examination before allowing any movement along the route. The aim was to ensure the safety of all travelers and to prevent accidents in an area prone to sudden weather changes.
Officials urged residents and visitors to defer travel plans to the site and to avoid trekking along tourist routes because rising river levels, the risk of muddy patches in the mountains, and current weather advisories could create hazardous conditions.
Later that evening, four catamarans carrying tourists returned to the riverbank on the Snezhnaya River. Of the group, three individuals were able to reach shore safely, while the remaining five were reported missing and the search continued as authorities coordinated with local rescue teams.
A prior meteorological bulletin noted a storm warning for heavy rains with thunderstorms in the northern part of Primorsky Krai, highlighting the broader risk of severe weather in the region.