Rescue teams are trying to reach survivors of a climbing expedition on Eurasia’s tallest volcano that has killed eight people, local officials said.
The dead were part of a group of 12 individuals, including two guides, who had been climbing the Klyuchevskaya Sopka in the northeast region of Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula since Aug. 30, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti said.
At 4,750 meters, Klyuchevskaya Sopka is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world.
Russia’s Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Assistance told state media that a rescue group is climbing to reach the survivors, who are split between their camp at about 3,300 meters and somewhere on the volcano at an altitude of 10,000 feet. more than 4,150 meters.
Rescuers hope to arrive at the camp at midnight and continue ascending the next morning at dawn, the ministry said. Its progress is being hampered by treacherous and unpredictable conditions, with high winds, extremely cold temperatures and snow at high altitudes.
“The outcome of the search and rescue operation depends on the weather, ash clouds on the slopes, melting glaciers, mud flows and rock falls,” the ministry said.
Previous search and rescue attempts to reach the trapped individuals were unsuccessful as strong winds prevented a helicopter from landing on the volcano on Sunday, a day after five members of the group fell to their deaths. On Monday morning, three more died, Russian Deputy Prime Minister of Kamchatka, Roman Vasilevsky, told RIA Novosti.
The Minister of Emergency Situations for the region where the volcano is located has opened a hotline for information to relatives of the climbing group, a spokesperson told RIA Novosti.
“Relatives can obtain information about the progress of search and rescue operations, as well as, if necessary, obtain psychological help,” the ministry’s press service said.
A criminal case has been launched to investigate the cause of the deaths, RIA Novosti reported.
Source: CNN Brasil
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