Six people are confirmed dead among tourists in Kamchatka, with one more death reported the day prior, according to Interfax citing a regional representative from the Ministry of Emergencies.
According to the ministry, six fatalities have been recorded so far, four individuals are conscious, and one of them has a broken leg. Two rescue groups equipped with four units of gear were dispatched to the scene as part of the ministry’s statement.
Rescuers have yet to reach climbers at elevations above 4,000 meters. During the night, two tourists managed to descend to the base camp at about 3,300 meters above sea level.
Baza reported that the rescue operation was postponed to September 5. Ministry helicopters from both sides attempted to reach a camp at 3,300 meters, but failed to land on two occasions due to winds reaching 27 meters per second.
very high chance of survival
Denis Kiselev, a rescuer and instructor at the Central School of Mountaineering, told socialbites.ca that long treks to stranded climbers on high mountains are a normal aspect of rescue work in such terrain.
He explained that mountain conditions often render rescuers unable to move. When visibility is reduced by strong winds, the wind itself can push a person to the ground, making it nearly impossible to rise or locate someone. In such scenarios, finding and evacuating a person becomes extremely challenging. Visibility can drop to three to five meters on steep slopes, comparable to not spotting a neighbor’s house in a city. This situation is very serious, and rescue teams face substantial difficulties.
Nevertheless, Kiselev stressed that the odds of saving the surviving climbers remain high.
He stated that nothing would happen to the survivors, acknowledging that a broken leg represents a painful complication. The “golden hour” guideline emphasizes the quicker someone reaches medical care, the better the recovery prospects. He noted that the survivors have tents and, at a forester’s house nearby, some shelter remains available. This provides additional protection as long as no other problems arise, such as tent damage.
According to Kiselev, if no further issues occur, the climbers are likely to endure the ordeal. He called for patience, believing that the rescuers can ensure a successful outcome.
He concluded with a cautious but hopeful outlook, stating that survival under these conditions is plausible and that the overall resolution could be favorable.
fell into the abyss
On August 30, a group of climbers from seven Russian regions began an ascent of Klyuchevskaya Sopka, Kamchatka’s highest active volcano, which nears five thousand meters in height. The expedition included ten participants from a Novosibirsk travel company and two guides.
By September 3, reports indicated that five people had died after descending from approximately 4,150 meters. One tourist sustained a broken leg, another passed out during the fall and died in the morning. Journalists noted that the group traveled in clusters of three. At one moment, at altitudes above 4,000 meters, one climber lost his grip and slid down, pulling two others with him. A separate trio also failed in the descent.
Identities reported by Baza include Pavel Selyanichev from Moscow, Maxim Solovyov from Gus-Khrustalny, Ekaterina Kosyuk from Moscow, Andrei Gutor from Moscow, Alexander Zhilovachik from Kamensk-Omare, and Evgeny Sorokin from Elektrostal.
A few hours after the tragedy, two climbers Anastasia Usacheva and Roman Averin managed to reach a hunter’s house at around 3,300 meters. Four more climbers awaited rescuers near the site in tents, including Andrey Mishchenko who had a broken leg.
Following the deaths, a criminal case was opened under Part 3 of Article 109 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for causing death by negligence involving two or more people.