5 mountaineers killed; 14 others rescued on Russia's Mount Elbrus

A group of 19 people that became stuck in the mountains due to the weather conditions earlier sent out an SOS signal from the mountain where the wind speed was about 70 meters per second and the temperature was 20 degrees below zero.

“Unfortunately, five people were found dead. 14 people were brought down from the mountain and rushed to hospital,” said Mikhail Nadyozhin, the head of the Ministry’s regional branch.

Mount Elbrus is the highest and most prominent peak in Russia and Europe. It is situated in the western part of the Caucasus and is the highest peak of the Caucasus Mountains. The dormant volcano rises 5,642 m above sea level; it is the highest stratovolcano in Eurasia, as well as the tenth-most prominent peak in the world. The mountain stands in Southern Russia, in the Russian republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. (ILKHA)