PEAK DISASTER

At Least 11 Climbers Killed in Avalanche

Six others are missing.

At least 11 climbers have died after a massive avalanche swept away members of a mountaineering group. At least six others are missing after the terrifying incident on Mount Mizhirgi in Russia’s North Caucasus, emergency officials said, while another six are injured. The avalanche struck at around 5 p.m. local time on Sunday in the Kabardino-Balkaria region, with the wall of snow hitting a group of 33 climbers on one of the area’s highest peaks. At least ten members of the group managed to descend the mountain without assistance. More than 50 emergency workers have been deployed in the rescue operation, but treacherous terrain and the threat of further avalanches are slowing the effort. Mount Mizhirgi, which has two summits, is considered an ultra-high mountain and is one of just 12 peaks in the Caucasus above 16,000 feet.