Eight Chinese tourists died when a tour bus carrying them plunged into Lake Baikal in Siberia as the ice cracked. Only one person managed to survive the tragic accident.
According to Reuters, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry stated on Friday that the accident site had a depth of 18 meters (59 feet), with the vehicle found submerged at a depth of 18 meters underwater. Rescue teams used underwater cameras to survey the scene, discovering seven bodies in the lake. The Irkutsk regional prosecutor’s office stated that the police have initiated an investigation.
The Emergency Situations Ministry did not specify the nationalities of the victims in their statement, but the Governor of Irkutsk Oblast confirmed that the deceased individuals were all foreign citizens, and the Chinese Consulate General in Irkutsk has been notified. Witnesses reported that one tourist managed to escape before the bus sank.
Lake Baikal, located in northern Mongolia, is the world’s deepest freshwater lake and a major tourist destination in Siberia, especially popular among Chinese tourists. In recent years, the relationship between China and Russia has been growing closer, coupled with visa exemptions, leading to a surge in Chinese tourists visiting Russia.
During the winter, Lake Baikal’s surface freezes, forming spectacular ice columns that are a marvel to behold. As waves underneath the ice hit the surface, they create unique cracking sounds. Russian authorities construct dedicated ice roads on the frozen lake surface, monitored by relevant agencies to determine when specific types of vehicles can traverse them, while other areas of the lake are off-limits for driving. The Russian side stated that the ice road where the incident occurred had not been cleared, thus making it impassable.