An avalanche in a gorge in the southern Russian republic of Kabardino-Balkaria killed 12 people, including personnel of the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardia), the agency confirmed, Current Time reported.
Earlier, Telegram channels close to security forces, including Baza, reported that the dead were servicemen of the Vityaz special-purpose center. Rosgvardia denied this information, TV Rain noted.
The security forces were conducting training exercises in the mountains with 70-year-old Albert Izotov, who had spent many years training servicemen in mountain preparedness. He also died, his wife Olga said.
The avalanche hit a group of 33 climbers. Twelve people died, six injured were taken to hospitals, and ten descended on their own. The fate of five more people is unknown, Current Time reported.
Rescue operations are complicated by hazardous terrain and repeated collapses of snow and ice masses.