Russian authorities found the bodies of five Bosnian and Herzegovinian climbers on Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Russia and Europe, after a group of seven climbers lost their way due to sudden severe weather. Two survivors were rescued, and the Bosnian government declared a nationwide mourning.
Russian officials confirmed the discovery of five Bosnian and Herzegovinian climbers' bodies on Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Russia and Europe, following an incident during a climb over the past weekend amid rapidly changing and severe weather conditions.
The local prosecutor's office in the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic reported that seven foreign climbers began their ascent of Mount Elbrus on 24 July, but by the evening of the next day, the weather deteriorated rapidly, causing the group to stray off their route.
One climber managed to descend the mountain to seek help and informed authorities that two members of the group fell ill at approximately 5,100 meters before passing away. Rescue teams later saved another survivor and found the bodies of three more climbers, resulting in five deaths and two survivors in total.
Vedro Mountaineering Club of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to which all the deceased belonged, issued a statement expressing sorrow over the significant loss, noting that all had died doing what they loved most: climbing.
Elmedin Konaković, Bosnia and Herzegovina's Foreign Minister, called the event a “major tragedy,” while Nermin Nikšić, Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, expressed condolences to the families and declared Monday a national day of mourning, pledging to do everything possible to repatriate the bodies.
Bosnian media reported that all seven climbers were from Zenica, in central Bosnia, including a married couple and a female doctor from a local hospital. There are unconfirmed reports that the expedition may have lacked a professional guide.
Russian rescue teams stated that search and recovery operations were difficult due to strong winds, with speeds increasing from about 45 kilometers per hour to around 70 kilometers per hour—considered dangerous for summit attempts—along with dense fog severely reducing visibility.
Mount Elbrus, standing 5,642 meters tall in the Caucasus Mountains near the Georgian border, is a major destination for climbers worldwide. However, it is known for sudden weather changes and is among Russia's most challenging climbing routes. Earlier in July, a father and son fell from a cliff during a climb there; the son died, but the father was safely rescued.