Russia’s avalanche tragedy deepens as 15th body recovered

The body of another mountaineer has been recovered during search and rescue operations following an avalanche in the Bezengi Gorge in Russia’s Kabardino-Balkaria, bringing the death toll to 15.

“Today, the body of another victim was found under the avalanche in the Bezengi Gorge. A total of 15 bodies have been found so far,” the emergency services said, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

The avalanche struck Mount Mizhirgi in the Bezengi Gorge on September 6, burying a group of 33 mountaineers.

The disaster could become the deadliest mountaineering-related incident in Russia since 2002, when a film crew led by actor and director Sergei Bodrov Jr. was killed in the Kolka Glacier disaster in the Karmadon Gorge, according to media reports.

Telegram channel Baza reported that the avalanche may have been triggered by a rockfall. Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry has not confirmed the report.

The Investigative Committee of Russia has launched a criminal probe into the incident.

By Vafa Guliyeva