Avalanche in Kabardino-Balkaria Kills 11 Climbers

By Reuters Sep. 7, 2026 Russian emergency personnel. Emergency Situations Ministry At least 11 people were killed and six others injured after an avalanche struck a group of climbers in Russia's Kabardino-Balkaria region in the North Caucasus, local emergency services said. The avalanche swept down Mount Mizhirgi, one of the highest peaks in Russia's North Caucasus, at around 5 p.m. local time on Sunday, hitting a group of 33 climbers. As of 9 a.m. local time on Monday, 10 climbers had made their own way down the mountain, while the fate of six others remained unknown, emergency services said. More than 50 emergency workers were involved in the search and rescue operation, but efforts were being hampered by difficult terrain and a high risk of further avalanches, they said. Read more about: Kabardino-Balkaria , Natural disasters Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Mudslide Triggers Evacuations, Cuts Water Supply Near Mount Elbrus Around 3,000 residents in the Elbrussky municipal district were left without access to clean water, emergency authorities said. 1 Min read Dozens of Aftershocks Rattle Kamchatka, Volcano Erupts After Powerful Earthquake By 9 p.m. local time Thursday, more than 90 aftershocks had been recorded off Kamchatka’s coast, ranging between magnitudes 4.0 and 6.7. 2 Min read Emergency Authorities Acknowledge 15 Deaths Nearly a Year After Devastating Orenburg Floods At the time of last spring’s catastrophic flooding, authorities denied anyone had died despite media reporting that multiple bodies were found. 1 Min read Russian Security Agents Say Killed 2 Militants in North Caucasus Anti-Terrorism Operation A video released by law enforcement showed security agents inside a military vehicle firing toward a two-story home in a remote rural area. 1 Min read