Search intensifies for three mountaineers missing in Kyrgyzstan

A helicopter is due to join the search on August 12 for three mountaineers who went missing in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan after reaching the summit of Mount Kurumdy, search organisers said.

The group consists of Belarusian nationals Nikolai Sviridov and Maksim Polyansky, and Lithuanian citizen Sergei Rubtsov, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

They have not been heard from since 2 August, when they reported reaching the summit of Kurumdy in the Pamir Mountains.

Search teams are prioritising the area between Camps 2 and 3, where steep, snow-covered ice has made the terrain particularly difficult to survey. Organisers said this section of the route has so far not been properly examined.

A helicopter will travel from Bishkek to Osh, where it will pick up a cameraman equipped with video equipment and Swiss mountain guide Damian, who visited the area about a month ago. Favourable weather conditions are expected to allow the helicopter search to proceed.

Drones have already surveyed a snow-and-ice ridge and surrounding slopes between 4,000 and 4,800 metres, as well as a mountain spur reaching 5,550 metres.

Footage from elevations of 4,000 to 5,000 metres has been sent to the search headquarters for analysis. A team from Lithuania is also assisting, with computer-vision technology being used to examine the recordings for possible signs of the missing climbers.

According to Belarus's Foreign Ministry, the mountaineers lost contact after their ascent of Kurumdy. Their planned descent was to pass through a bowl-shaped glacial depression beneath the Pre-Summit Pass.

The search effort has also received financial support from the public. Organisers, including Polyansky's wife, said they had raised €70,000 to help finance the operation.

By Aghakazim Guliyev