BODIES OF DECEASED ZENICA MOUNTAINEERS EVACUATED FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE

SARAJEVO, JULY 27 /SRNA/ - The bodies of all five Zenica mountaineers who died on Mount Elbrus in Russia have been evacuated from the accident site and handed over to investigative authorities.

Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations said that large-scale search and rescue operations on Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus were completed today at 3:30 p.m. Central European Time, and that the bodies of three deceased climbers had been evacuated.

The bodies of two of the victims were found yesterday.

The official confirmation of death, identification, and possible autopsies will follow before the bodies of the tragically deceased mountaineers are transported to BiH.

Chairman of Russia's Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin ordered the opening of a criminal case over the tragedy and the submission of a report on the established circumstances. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the accident, including checking whether any safety rules were violated during the ascent.

In an attempt by a seven-member group of mountaineers from Zenica to reach the summit of Mount Elbrus, five of them died, while two survived.

One of the survivors managed to descend the mountain on his own and report the accident, after which rescuers from Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations were sent to the scene and found the second man alive.