Five tourists die during ascent of Klyuchevskaya Sopka in Kamchatka
Five members of a group died while climbing Klyuchevskaya Sopka, the highest active volcano in Eurasia, located in Kamchatka. Two others from the same group were injured, according to information provided by local authorities via the Kamchatka District prosecutor’s office.
Initial details show that twelve people from various Russian regions, including Altai, Primorsky, Kamchatka, Moscow, Novosibirsk, and Vladimir Regions, registered with the Ministry of Emergency Situations for the expedition. The ascent began on Tuesday, August 30, with four climbers remaining at a camp at an altitude of about 3300 meters while the rest moved higher. Five climbers are reported to have fallen at around 4200 meters, resulting in fatalities, and two others sustained injuries. One climber was rendered unconscious, and the group’s guide sustained a broken leg. These accounts are based on preliminary information released by the authorities.
Further updates indicated that on September 3, at least five people fell from a height of about 4150 meters and did not survive. The second guide reported the incident via satellite to the regional emergency directorate and coordinated assistance for the victims.
On September 3, a guide informed rescuers of the tragedy, and a rescue operation was underway. A helicopter had arrived and the objective was to evacuate the injured climbers and recover the deceased. The press service noted that rescuers face significant height-related challenges and acclimatization requirements, which affected the timing of access to the surviving climbers. Overnight stays in the 3300-meter camp were necessary to prepare for ascent beyond the initial acclimatized period.
Officials stated that rescuers would move toward the location of the tragedy at first light, around 06:00 on September 4. Communication with the surviving climbers was maintained via a satellite phone carried by the guide, and the group was advised to descend to safer elevations to reduce hypothermia risk. Decisions regarding the evacuation of the bodies from the high altitude would follow the completion of the immediate rescue operation.
The tourist group had registered with the Ministry of Emergencies, and the district attorney’s office announced its oversight of the tour’s organization and conduct following the incident.
Dangerous sport and recent high-altitude fatalities
Climbing remains among the most life-threatening activities worldwide. On August 30, two climbers, a Russian and a Kyrgyz national, died while attempting Lenin Peak, which straddles the Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border. The two climbers were reported to have died at approximately 6100 meters above sea level, and their bodies were recovered during the descent. Hypothermia was listed as a probable cause.
Lenin Peak, standing at 7134 meters, is widely regarded as one of Central Asia’s most challenging summits. Its remote location adds to the difficulty of rescue operations and safe ascent.
Later in July, a separate incident drew international attention when an Australian and a Canadian mountaineer were found deceased on K2 in Pakistan, the world’s second-highest peak after Everest. K2 has earned the moniker “Wild Mountain” because of the number of climber fatalities historically associated with its ascent. The Guardian reported that the two climbers disappeared a week before their bodies were recovered during the descent from Camp 2 to Camp 1.
Additionally, Afghan reports noted that Afghan climber Ali Akbar Sakhi died of a heart attack while descending K2 in the same period. These incidents underscore the persistent hazards of high-altitude mountaineering across the region.