Russian authorities say a climb on the country's highest peak ended in disaster for a group of foreign nationals. Authorities say the bodies of five climbers from a group believed to be Bosnian have been found on Mount Elbrus, an 18,510-foot mountain near Russia's border with Georgia, the Guardian reports. Russia's Emergencies Ministry says the bodies of two climbers were recovered from an altitude of around 17,550 feet, while the bodies of the other three have been located but they haven't been recovered yet due to rough weather conditions, reports Reuters.
Officials say worsening weather pushed the climbers off their route on Saturday. One climber descended to alert rescuers, saying two in the group had fallen ill and died. Another survivor was later located. Bosnia and Herzegovina's foreign minister, Elmedin Konakovic, confirmed the deaths and described the loss as "a major tragedy." Local media in Bosnia reported the climbers were from the town of Zenica and included a married couple and a doctor.
- Elbrus, near Russia's border with Georgia, is known for abrupt weather shifts that can rapidly turn conditions dangerous. Ivan Orli, the Bosnian ambassador to Russia, said more than a dozen Russian rescuers were involved in the operation, but the search has been suspended because of "extremely bad weather," reports the Sarajevo Times. "Visibility is almost non-existent and orientation can be lost in a moment," he said. "The search has been stopped because of this."
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