A five-member group of tourists who vanished during a rafting expedition on the Tyya River in the Severo-Baikalsky district of Buryatia is the focus of a coordinated search and rescue effort conducted by local emergency services. The regional department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed the incident through its Telegram channel, noting that rescue teams were mobilized when the group failed to return along the planned route at the expected time.
According to authorities, a Mi-8 helicopter operated by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations was dispatched from Ulan-Ude to the location to conduct an immediate search for the missing travelers. The operation is being carried out with aerial support, enabling rapid coverage of difficult terrain and known access routes to the northern areas of Buryatia where the group was last located.
Initial information indicates that the tour group had temporarily settled in the Gate area of northern Buryatia, and the emergency services began their search from that vicinity. Rescue teams are coordinating with local guides and regional authorities to establish the group’s last known position, assess potential risks, and identify areas for on-ground tracking and泉 evacuation if required. The public safety agencies emphasized that the operation focuses on preserving every possible lead while maintaining safety for the responders working in rugged riverine terrain.
In related news, reports from other parts of the country note that a separate group of six people disappeared in the Murmansk region’s Kirovsky district in early August. Earlier this year, an 18-year-old resident of the Perm Territory went missing near the Dyatlov Pass, drawing national attention to the recurring challenges of search and rescue in remote, mountainous areas. Additionally, there have been prior incidents involving missing hikers and explorers in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, underscoring the ongoing need for robust emergency response capabilities in hard-to-reach environments. Each case highlights the importance of timely coordination among regional authorities, search teams, and local communities to maximize the chances of a safe outcome for those who venture into challenging natural landscapes. [Citation: regional Department of Emergency Situations]