Five tourists died while climbing the highest active volcano in Eurasia – Klyuchevskaya Sopka in Kamchatka. According to the Telegram channel of the Kamchatka District prosecutor’s office, two members of the group were injured.
“According to preliminary information, five tourists registered with the Ministry of Emergency Situations, a group of 12 people from different regions of Russia (Altai, Primorsky, Kamchatka Territory, Moscow, Novosibirsk and Vladimir Regions), fell during the ascent and died, victims there,” the ministry said.
On Tuesday, August 30, tourists began to climb Klyuchevskaya Sopka, a volcano 4800 m high. The day before the tragedy, a group of 12 people left: three tourists remained in the camp at an altitude of 3300 meters, nine people climbed the mountain further. Five tourists died at an altitude of 4200 meters. Two more people were injured: One of the tourists was unconscious, the tour group’s guide broke his leg.
“According to preliminary information, on September 3 of this year, at least five people fell from a height of approximately 4,150 meters and lost their lives. One of the guides was injured in the form of a broken leg. The second guide, who reported the incident via satellite to the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in the Kamchatka Region, provides assistance to victims,” he said.
On September 3, one of the guides contacted the rescuers and reported the tragedy. Now the operation to evacuate the injured climbers continues.
“The helicopter has arrived. The press service of the Kamchatka government, the task of the specialists on board is to evacuate the victims, ”said the press service.
However, rescuers can immediately climb to such a height, they must undergo acclimatization. In this regard, they stayed overnight in the camp at an altitude of 3300 m. Rescuers will be able to reach the surviving tourists only after 12 hours.
“They will advance to the height at which the tragedy occurred, at approximately 06:00 on September 4,” the district government said.
Communication with surviving tourists is provided by the guide’s satellite phone. “Tourists currently at altitude are advised to go lower to avoid hypothermia. “After the evacuation of the victims, it will be decided how to evacuate the bodies of the dead from a great height,” he said.
The tourist group is registered in accordance with all the requirements of the Ministry of Emergencies. Upon the fact of the tragedy, the district attorney’s office will control the organization and conduct of the tour.
dangerous sport
Climbing remains one of the most life-threatening sports in the world. On August 30, two climbers from Russia and Kyrgyzstan died in the mountains while climbing the Lenin Peak.
It was stated that a 38-year-old Russian citizen and a 41-year-old Kyrgyz died at an altitude of 6100 meters at the Lenin Summit. The bodies of the climbers were found and lowered from the mountain.
Hypothermia was tentatively listed as the cause of death.
Located on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the Lenin Peak is one of the most inaccessible peaks in Central Asia. Its altitude is 7,134 meters above sea level.
At the end of July, an Australian and Canadian mountaineer was found dead on K2 in Pakistan, the second highest mountain in the world after Everest. The summit is called the “Wild Mountain” because 86 climbers lost their lives. And in 2008, 11 members of the expedition died immediately under an avalanche.
The bodies found in July were identified as Australian mountaineer Matthew Eakin and Canadian mountaineer Richard Cartier. The British newspaper The Guardian wrote that they disappeared a week before they were discovered during the descent from Camp 2 to Camp 1.
Afghan publication Pajhwok reported that Afghan Ali Akbar Sakhi also died of a heart attack while descending the mountain in K2 last week.
Source: Gazeta
