Russian authorities and state media announced on Sunday that the bodies of five foreign climbers have been discovered on Mount Elbrus, believed to be Bosnian nationals.
According to local prosecutors, “Investigators have revealed that a team of seven foreign climbers set out to climb Mount Elbrus on July 24. However, due to rapidly deteriorating weather conditions the following night, the group veered off course.”
Mount Elbrus is the highest peak in Russia. Authorities had previously disclosed that among the group of seven climbers attempting the summit, they had found two bodies and are still searching for three more.
In a subsequent statement, authorities mentioned that one climber who descended reported, “Two members of the team fell ill and died at an altitude of 5100 meters.” They added, “Rescue teams later located a surviving climber, as well as the bodies of the three other deceased climbers.”
Bosnian Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic confirmed the reports of the fatalities, referring to it as “a major tragedy.”