Two missing mountaineers found dead on Russia’s Mount Dykhtau

Rescuers have found two mountaineers who went missing on Mount Dykhtau in Russia’s Kabardino-Balkaria dead, the regional branch of the Emergencies Ministry said on Wednesday, September 23.

“Russian Emergencies Ministry specialists found the mountaineers, unfortunately, with no signs of life. A commercial helicopter is planned to be involved in evacuating the bodies of the deceased,” the ministry said, according to Russian media.

Russia’s Investigative Committee in Kabardino-Balkaria has launched a preliminary inquiry following the discovery of the bodies in the mountainous part of Cherek district. The regional prosecutor’s office is also monitoring efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The search operation began on September 21, after the two tourists failed to make contact at the agreed time.

The pair had been attempting a difficult Grade 4B mountaineering route on Mount Dykhtau. Preliminary information indicates that the climbers were from the Russian cities of Tolyatti and Nizhny Novgorod.

Authorities are expected to arrange the evacuation of the bodies by commercial helicopter.

By Tamilla Hasanova