- Five climbers from a group believed to be Bosnian have been found dead on Mount Elbrus, as confirmed by authorities.
- The group summited Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak, on the morning of Friday, July 24, in good weather.
- Worsening weather conditions pushed the climbers off their route on Saturday, leading to their tragic fate.
- The bodies of two climbers were recovered from an altitude of around 17,550 feet, while the other three have been located but not yet recovered due to rough weather conditions.
- Two members of the group had fallen ill above 5,000m and perished, according to an official by the local prosecutor.
- The climbers were from the town of Zenica and included a married couple and a doctor.
- Authorities have stated that the search has been suspended because of 'extremely bad weather', with visibility almost non-existent.
- Overall, Elbrus registers between 15 and 30 deaths every year, highlighting the mountain's dangers.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina's foreign minister, Elmedin Konakovic, confirmed the deaths and described the loss as 'a major tragedy'.
- The two surviving members of the expedition could soon return to Bosnia and Herzegovina, as announced by GSS Zenica member Munever Aganović.
Five Bosnian climbers tragically lost their lives on Mount Elbrus as authorities confirmed the discovery of their bodies amid worsening weather conditions. The climbers, part of a seven-member expedition from Zenica, summited the peak on July 24 in good weather but were later caught in a whiteout.23789
The deceased include Dr. Meliha Causevic, married couple Alma and Denis Okanovic, and climbers Nermin Talam and Almir Krivdic. Reports indicate that two members of the group fell ill above 5,000m and perished, prompting a search operation that has been complicated by severe weather conditions.6
Rescuers found two bodies at an altitude of approximately 5,350m, while the remaining three bodies have been located but not yet recovered due to the extremely bad weather. Visibility has been described as almost non-existent, making search efforts perilous.
The two survivors, Haris Adilovic and Kemal Vidimlic, are currently in contact with authorities and are expected to return to Bosnia soon. The Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nermin Nikšić, has pledged support for the survivors and the families of the deceased. The tragedy has left the community in shock, with Bosnia and Herzegovina's foreign minister, Elmedin Konakovic, calling it a 'major tragedy'.11
Overall, Elbrus sees between 15 and 30 deaths annually, highlighting the mountain's dangers.10
“The climbers, including a married couple and a doctor, were part of a Zenica expedition that faced severe weather, leading to their tragic deaths. Bosnia and Herzegovina's foreign minister, Elmedin Konakovic, described the incident as 'a major tragedy' for the nation.”
Sarajevo Times
