Deadly avalanche in Russia's Kabardino-Balkaria: latest developments

The rescue operation to find six missing climbers in the Bezengi Gorge in Russia’s Kabardino-Balkaria has been paused yesterday evening until daylight, the Emergencies Ministry’s department in the region said.

"At 7:00 p.m. Moscow time (4:00 p.m. GMT), the rescue operation in the Bezengi Gorge was put on a hold. <…> Twelve Russian Emergencies Ministry specialists remained at the scene," the ministry said.

According to it, 46 people are at the ready at the Bezengi alpine camp, and there are plans to fly the rescuers in with a helicopter at daybreak on September 8, weather permitting.

The avalanche swept down Mount Mizhirgi, one of the highest peaks in Russia's North Caucasus, in the Bezengi Gorge on Sunday evening.

The death toll from the avalanche has risen to 11, six climbers were injured.

According to the regional Emergencies Ministry’s department, the search efforts are complicated by the difficult terrain and the high risk of further avalanches.

The Investigative Committee has launched criminal proceedings on charges of negligence. The Prosecutor General’s Office of Kabardino-Balkaria has launched an investigation into the incident.