The key facts

  • The cause of the collapse in the Bezengi Gorge was named as the exposure of sections of the glacier due to the rising snow line
  • 17 of 33 climbers died, ten saved themselves, six were hospitalized with injuries
  • The search operation ended on September 13, having lasted more than six days

Emergency Ministry's version: glacier weakening due to climate

The cause of the deaths of 17 climbers in the Bezengi Gorge was the 'exposure' of a glacier against the backdrop of climate change. This was stated by Eldar Khashkhozhev, first deputy head of the Main Directorate of the Emergency Ministry for Kabardino-Balkaria, reports TASS. According to Life.ru, the statement was made at an extended session of the republic's parliament dedicated to tourism development in Kabardino-Balkaria.

How the collapse mechanism was explained

According to Khashkhozhev, the rising snow line leads to the exposure of individual sections of the glacier, as a result of which the natural support that had held masses of snow and ice on the slope for decades weakens. 'Accordingly, because these sections become exposed, the lower support that held these glaciers for many years becomes weaker and no longer holds these large blocks of snow lying above,' the official explained. Participants of the session linked what happened to large-scale climate changes affecting high-mountain areas.

Chronicle of the tragedy

The collapse occurred on September 6, 2026, in the Bezengi Gorge on Mount Mizhirgi: a snow-and-ice mass buried a group of 33 climbers. Seventeen people died, ten managed to save themselves, and six more were hospitalized with injuries. The search and rescue operation ended on September 13 with the discovery of the last victim; the search lasted more than six days in difficult high-mountain conditions and was complicated by repeated slides of snow-and-ice masses.