Avalanche on Russia's Mount Mizhirgi Kills at Least 11 Climbers
A massive avalanche on Mount Mizhirgi in Russia's North Caucasus has killed at least 11 members of a 33-person climbing group, with six still missing and six injured.
An avalanche struck a mountaineering party on Mount Mizhirgi in the Kabardino-Balkaria region of Russia's North Caucasus on Sunday afternoon, killing at least 11 climbers, emergency officials said. The slide hit a group of 33 people as they were descending one of the peak's two summits, which is among the Caucasus' twelve ultra-high mountains above 16,000 feet. At least ten members managed to reach lower ground without assistance, while six others were injured and six remain missing. More than 50 rescue workers have been deployed, but the rugged terrain and risk of further slides are hampering the operation. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. local time, and authorities continue to search for the missing climbers.