Six people were initially reported dead, according to officials on the Kamchatka Peninsula, and another six were believed to have been stranded from the party of 12, which included two drivers. However, the Interfax news agency reported that “two more have died,” citing Roman Vasilevsky, Kamchatka’s deputy prime minister. His information came from a guide communicating from the 4,754-meter (15,597-foot) volcano via satellite phone, Interfax reported. Russia The party of 12 set out on Tuesday to climb the mountain – Eurasia’s highest active volcano – but ran into trouble on Saturday when some of the group fell to their deaths at nearly 4,200 metres, authorities said. One person is believed to have a broken leg, they added. Rescuers tried to reach them on Sunday but were forced to turn back as strong winds prevented the helicopter from landing. “They were scheduled to land at an altitude of 3,300 meters, but due to gusty winds of 30 meters per second [67mph] they failed to do so, although two attempts were made a few hours apart,” rescuers said. Temperatures on the mountain can reach as low as minus 14 degrees Celsius overnight. Tatiana Yuhmanova, a spokeswoman for the local civil defense authority, said rescuers would try to reach the group again on Monday, weather permitting. Klyuchevskaya Sopka is the tallest of more than 160 volcanoes whose snow-capped peaks rise above the Kamchatka Peninsula. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding natural beauty. Rescuers warn that the mountain, made up of piles of volcanic rock mixed with snow and ice, is considered particularly dangerous for climbers because of its altitude and the risk of a volcanic eruption.
