11 killed in avalanche during security forces training in Russia (VIDEO)

Eleven people were killed when an avalanche in the mountains of Russia’s Kabardino-Balkaria region struck during a security agency personnel training exercise, the regional Emergencies Ministry has reported, adding that six remain missing.

The avalanche swept through a temporary camp in the Bezengi Gorge on Sunday evening as participants were undergoing training on icy terrain, Russian Mountaineering Federation official Alexander Yakovenko told reporters on Monday. Civilian instructors were overseeing the exercises.

“This is not a classic ascent but specifically a training process,” Yakovenko said. “Participants set up a tent camp and go out for several days to practice techniques for moving across icy terrain and organizing belays. After training they were supposed to return to the permanent camp.”

The snow-and-ice mass came down from Mount Mizhirgi and struck both the camp and areas being used for training. The registered group comprised 33 people, although Yakovenko said only 15 were initially believed to have been in the immediate avalanche zone, with participants spread across different training sites.

He described an avalanche of such magnitude as exceptionally rare. According to him, a huge mass of snow and ice broke away high above the group, crashed onto the glacier and set off further movement below.

Eleven people have been confirmed dead and six others were injured and hospitalized, according to the Emergencies Ministry. Ten members of the group managed to descend without assistance, while rescuers are continuing to search for six others.

The search has been complicated by difficult mountain terrain, the size of the avalanche zone and the risk of further slides. The Emergencies Ministry said 56 personnel had been deployed to the operation, with rescue aircraft also involved when conditions allow.

Yakovenko said the participants and instructors had the required qualifications and described security agency training under Russian Mountaineering Federation programs as standard practice.