Yesterday, reports confirmed the discovery of a 50-year-old beam from Ust-Ilimsk found between Severobaikalsk and Nizhneangarsk. The information came from the Babr Mash Telegram channel, which has been closely tracking the region’s safety incidents and response efforts.
On July 5, two friends were navigating the Upper Angara by raft when a storm swept in. They steered toward Lake Baikal for safety, but the situation worsened as the boats capsized. One of the teammates managed to reach shore and alerted rescuers. A search operation was launched immediately and continued for five days as teams coordinated from the shore, water, and air as weather conditions complicated progress.
Rescue teams faced persistent challenges from strong winds and choppy waves that hampered both surface and aerial efforts. Despite the difficult conditions, responders pressed on, employing a combination of boats, divers, and helicopters to scan the water and riverbanks for any sign of missing persons.
In a separate but related development, a seventh individual reported missing after rafting on a river in Buryatia was located with the assistance of a Mi-8 helicopter. The aircraft was deployed to the village of Novosnezhnaya in the Irkutsk Region to support ongoing search operations. Authorities confirmed that the operation involving air support would continue to extend the search radius and increase the chances of locating everyone involved.
Officials stated that the search for the second person remains active. A helicopter, along with water and land rescue teams, has been deployed to join the ongoing efforts, and teams are coordinating to cover the river reaches, downstream areas, and potential points of shorelines where missing individuals might have taken refuge or become stranded.
Earlier this week, a separate incident involving a flight from Istanbul to Moscow was noted, with an emergency landing prompted by a violent event. While this detail highlights broader travel safety concerns in the region, the focus remains on the ongoing rescue operations and the safety of people participating in outdoor activities around Siberia and Lake Baikal.