Five Bosnian mountaineers are feared to have died on Mount Elbrus in Russia—the highest mountain in Europe—after being caught in a violent storm, a Bosnian mountain rescue service said on Sunday, while Russian rescue teams continued searching for the remaining bodies, Reuters reported.
Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations said rescue crews successfully saved two other climbers, who were evacuated from the mountain and transported for medical treatment.
The ministry also stated that the bodies of two members of the same climbing group had been located at an altitude of 5,350 meters and would be recovered once weather conditions permit. The search for the remaining three bodies is ongoing, the ministry added, without specifying their nationalities.
Mount Elbrus, which rises to 5,642 meters just north of the Georgian border, is well known for its unpredictable weather and challenging climbing conditions.
Bosnian media reported that all seven members of the expedition were from the central Bosnian city of Zenica and included a married couple as well as a doctor employed at the local hospital.
Russian media reported that severe weather conditions, including strong winds, have complicated both the search and recovery operations.
