“Leaving the whole team is scary.” Of the 12 tourists on Klyuchevskaya Sopka, only three survived

Of a group of 12 tourists who went on a route to the Klyuchevskoy volcano in Kamchatka, only three survived, the Russian Investigative Committee reported. A criminal case was opened. The director of the travel company that organized the dangerous trip was detained.

On the morning of September 5, three members of the alpine group, who took refuge in the volcanologist’s home, appeared To get in touch, RIA Novosti reported.

“Three tourists at the Klyuchevskoy volcano, located at an altitude of 3,300 meters, told their relatives that they are healthy,” the agency’s source said.

On September 3, an alpine group of 12 (10 tourists and 2 guides) who climbed the Klyuchevskoy volcano in Kamchatka returned to the rescue service. At an altitude of 4158 meters, one of the tourists fell off the slope and dragged the others with him. As a result, five people died at the scene. Two groups of rescuers rushed to the aid of the climbers, but were unable to reach the survivors due to bad weather.

The rise and course of the tragedy

Extreme Time has announced the expedition that will take place in June. The group included Muscovites, Petersburgers, residents of Vladimir, Barnaul and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky – a total of 12 climbers, including two instructors. The group set out on the morning of 29 August. They climbed together. In two days we reached the volcanologist’s house (at 3300 meters altitude).

After acclimatization, nine continued, three remained in the camp. On the afternoon of September 3, at an altitude of 4158 meters, one of the tourists fell off the slope and dragged the others – five people died on the spot, one hit his head on stones and lost consciousness, and the guide was broken. his leg.

Information about the emergency was immediately transmitted to the regional department of the Ministry of Emergencies. A Mi-8 helicopter with the doctors flew to the camp. The pilots tried to land the vehicle twice but failed due to inclement weather. The board of the Ministry of Emergencies also suffered a setback. On Sunday, September 4, a combined ground group of 24 men was sent to the hill. By that time, three more climbers from the group had died, according to officials of the Kamchatka Territory.

The rescue operation continued on 5 September. In the fourth attempt, the helicopter lowered the employees of the Ministry of Emergencies with climbing equipment at an altitude of 1500 m. They should reach the volcanologist’s house only two days later.. After that they will advance to the 4150 m mark.

Strong winds of up to 15 m/s aggravate the situation and heavy snowfall is also expected. According to weather forecasts, a cyclone will approach the peninsula from the Sea of ​​Okhotsk on September 6. The wind will increase and the snow will mix, which will make the job of the rescuers even more difficult.

“Extreme Time”

Upon the death of tourists while climbing a volcano, the Investigative Committee of the Kamchatka Region of the ICR opened a criminal case (providing services that did not meet the requirements for safety of life and health, resulting in the death of two or more people – part 3 of article 238 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) Against the director and trainer of the company “Extreme Time”. The head of the travel agency was detained. The investigation of the criminal case concerning the death of 9 tourists while climbing the volcano is also ongoing (part 3 of article 109 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

The travel company was searched and the documents were confiscated. Investigators of the Russian Investigative Committee are conducting investigative actions with the director of a travel agency. The activities of the company and its employees are also examined.

According to the Mash Telegram channel, the firm suggested Take a walk on special forbidden routes. Most likely, tourists went exactly along this road.

“Moskovsky Komsomolets” with reference to the Kamchatka guide Alexander Bichenko transmitsA more experienced group of climbers returned, following the volcano in front of the dead tourists, not daring to continue climbing due to the weather conditions.

“Before this group, my friend went to Klyuchevskaya Sopka, describing in detail the situation on the route. There was a lot of ice there, they went with the ice screws And those who completed half the route returned, realizing how difficult the ice situation there was, ”says Bichenko.

The group included athletes who wanted to defend the title of “Snow Leopard of Russia” (for this you need to climb Elbrus, Dykhtau, Shkhara, Koshtantau, Mizhirgi, Pushkin Peak, Dzhangitau, Kazbek, Klyuchevskaya Sopka and Belukha).

Bichenko noted that he did not know details about the group, whose rise was organized by a company from Novosibirsk. He emphasized that the guides of this group were not local people.

“When you go on a commercial climb, even if you find that the group is not ready or you don’t have time to get back in time, turn around. “I don’t know what ambitions are driving them forward, but it’s scary to leave the whole team,” he said.