Commercial Climb Ends in Tragedy on Siberian Peak

KRASNOYARSK, April 21 – A commercial mountaineering expedition to Mount Munku-Sardyk in Siberia’s Okinsky District has ended with three tourists dead from hypothermia, according to local authorities. The victims were from the city of Krasnoyarsk.

A representative from the Krasnoyarsk Regional Mountaineering Federation told RIA Novosti that the group was operating outside the organized climbing community. "This was commercial tourism, commercial mountaineering," the source stated. "We have no information indicating these were climbers from the federation or from established alpine clubs. It’s most likely they were simply commercial tourists."

The exact circumstances will become clearer once the remaining members of the party descend from the mountain, the federation added.

According to the Russian Investigative Committee, the group began their ascent on April 18 with a planned return date of April 22. The tragedy unfolded during their descent. On the night of April 21, several surviving members reached a road and left a note at a roadside cafe reporting the three fatalities before returning to the scene. A criminal case has been initiated under charges of providing services that fail to meet safety requirements.

At 3,492 meters, Munku-Sardyk is the highest peak in Eastern Siberia, located in the Republic of Buryatia near the Mongolian border. In Russia, only Mount Elbrus and Mount Belukha are taller.