Search continues for three missing climbers in Kyrgyzstan

Search operations are continuing in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan for Lithuanian climber Sergei Rubtsov and Belarusian citizens Maksim Palianski and Mikalai Sviridov, LRT reported, citing the Belarusian outlet Nasha Niva. The operation is being hampered by severe weather, difficult terrain and a lack of precise coordinates.

Aliaksandr Smirnov, who is leading the search, said on Facebook that the climbers disappeared after reaching the 6,613-metre Kurumdy Peak in the Trans-Alay Range.

The three experienced climbers reached the summit at 10.30 a.m. on August 1 and continued along the northern ridge. On August 2, they reported that they would be ready to descend on the fourth day. They then lost contact. A driver waited for them at the agreed meeting point on August 4 and 5, but the group did not appear.

Smirnov said August 2 was the actual date of the last contact, correcting reports that had listed August 4. The climbers had planned to reach the vehicle only on August 4.

“We do not have their coordinates, and that is the main difficulty of the operation,” Smirnov wrote. The satellite phone did not work during the expedition and displayed the message “Invalid position Kyrgyzstan.” Communications from the ridge took place through a Chinese operator whose signal was intermittent, leaving no specific location in the final messages.

Search teams are therefore checking the route rather than a single point. A team of rescuers from Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations has been working since August 7, and seven people were already in the area that evening. A Swiss guide named Damian, who was at the site of the disappearance a month earlier, is also helping.

On August 8, a drone launched from an altitude of 4,300 metres located the group’s tent at the base camp. No one was nearby. Based on the equipment, Smirnov said, the tent appeared to be a cache where the climbers had left their belongings before ascending.

Rescuers have been given route information, the coordinates of the first, second and third camps, and the presumed descent line. Volunteer climbers from Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Switzerland are providing remote assistance.

Smirnov said a storm warning was in effect until August 11, with snowfall in the mountains. Tracks on the slope were no longer visible, and ground searches had stopped at the glacier because conditions made it impossible to proceed. The upper section of the route cannot be surveyed from the ground, he said, adding that a helicopter and rescuers able to work at altitudes of 5,400 to 6,000 metres are needed.

All three men were experienced climbers and had previously climbed Revolution Peak, which is reached by only a small number of people. Smirnov said the search would continue as long as financial resources allowed.