Update: Bodies of two Polish climbers found
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
18.08.2015 13:26
The bodies of two Polish climbers have been found by search parties on Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus, contrary to earlier reports that all three had been located.
Гара ЭльбрусPhoto: Flickr.com/Ilya Bogin
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations had informed on Tuesday morning that three bodies had been discovered at an altitude of 5,400 metres by the crew of a helicopter search party.
However, it later transpired that what had seemed like three bodies from helicopter turned out to be two.
It remains unclear what has become of the third Polish climber.
The victims that have been located will be transported to Terskol where they will be handed over to local authorities.
The search had been broken off on Monday afternoon owing to sharply deteriorating weather conditions in the region, which is part of the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic within the Russian Federation. It was resumed on Tuesday morning.
Mount Elbrus rises to 5,642 metres. In March 2013, a Polish and an Iranian climber perished on the mountain. (rg/nh)