Five mountaineers from Bosnia and Herzegovina have died on an ascent to Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, located in the Northwest Caucasus in Russia, as confirmed this Sunday by the Bosnian Government. “Unfortunately, the reports appear to be true, although we are awaiting official confirmation. Then we will work on the repatriation of the bodies“Bosnian Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic told regional broadcaster TV N1, corroborating information published on the Russian website Lenta.ru.
According to the Russian media, which cites administrative sources from the Russian republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, where Mount Elbrus is located, A group of seven mountaineers set out on Saturday to climb the 5,642-meter peak.
But Only two of them managed to return, and reported that their companions had suffered discomfort at an altitude of 5,100 meters.
Both were hospitalized, while a rescue team searches for the otherswho according to information published by Lenta.ru have died.
Route of the seven summits
Mount Elbrus is a popular destination for mountaineers and It is part of the route of the seven summits, along the highest mountain on each continent, but it is also one of those that causes the most fatalitiesdespite or precisely because of its apparent ease.
The ascent does not require great mountaineering experience nor does it include difficult climbing routes, but it does involve a climb of many hours without the possibility of rest camps.
According to specialized mountaineering media, Every year between 15 and 30 deaths are recorded on this mountainusually due to altitude sickness or sudden storms, although the individual risk is much lower than in the Himalayas, and the high number is explained by the enormous number of visitors, between 10,000 and 12,000 a year.
This yearapart from the five Bosnian mountaineers, Three people have already died on the mountainincluding an 11-year-old boy who was descending with his father after reaching the summit, reports Lenta.ru.
