14 DAY TRIAL // Six teenagers have remained trapped as an avalanche swallowed them in East Siberia, Russia over the weekend.
Russia Today details that a group of seven teens tried to climb Mount Ak-Bashtyg in the republic of Tyva, East Siberia, in an effort to place flags when they reach the peak. The custom is said to bring luck to whomever achieves reaching the mountain top.
Russia's Children's Rights Commissioner Pavel Astakhov described that they were not equipped with proper climbing equipment and did not notify parents or authorities of their plans.
Rescue teams were prompted by the seventh member of their group, who managed to escape the avalanche.
The 17-year-old high-school student is currently in hospital care, where he has been admitted in a state of shock. Anton Salchak has not incurred serious injuries during the incident.
“The place where the avalanche hit is wild and not equipped. Letting them go there was dangerous. But they did not ask for permission. It’s a terrible tragedy. But we have hope,” Astakhov writes on Twitter, using handle @RFdeti.
A massive rescue operation is underway in search for the school kids. 147 first responders have been deployed to the avalanche site, where they are digging through a 5-6 meter (16.5-20 foot) snow wall.
They are reportedly using 25 pieces of machinery, and have to scour a 3,500-square meter (4,185-square yard) area.
The Emergencies Ministry has described that the avalanche covered a 200-meter (656-foot) area in width and extended over 600 meters (1,970 feet) in length.
90 volunteers are participating in the rescue efforts, and they are expecting residents of Siberian regions Kyzyl, Khakassia and Krasnoyarsk to join them.
“The deed was for a holy cause …but they killed themselves :(( You cannot let this happen next time!” adds Twitter user Aruna Tsybikova.