Rescue officials reported that a massive avalanche ripped down Mount Mizhirgi on Sunday. The wall of ice and snow killed at least 11 climbers and left six missing in Russia’s North Caucasus.
Deadly Avalanche in Russia’s North Caucasus
The avalanche struck a group of 33 mountaineers at about 5:00 p.m. local time in the treacherous Bezengi Gorge, a hotspot on the Russian‑Georgian border. Shocking footage captured a hanging glacier giving way and sending thousands of tons of frozen rubble cascading down the 16,400‑foot peak.
Tours filmed the wall crashing down, shouting “You only ever see something like this in the movies” before fleeing as the horror unfolded.
Ten climbers descended under their own power by Monday morning, while six wounded were airlifted to hospitals. More than 50 elite rescuers, supported by Mi‑8 helicopters, continue searching for the six still missing amid brutal terrain and the risk of secondary slides.
The tragedy follows a January snow slide on nearby Mount Elbrus that swept a parking lot but caused no injuries. Officials said the slide was unusually large yet fortunately spared lives.
Mountaineering experts cite recurring causes: collapsing seracs, extreme weather weakening ice, and sudden storms that trap climbers in zero visibility and sub‑zero wind chills. Overcrowded routes create traffic jams, and ignoring turnaround cutoffs can turn a weather shift into fatal outcomes.
