Bodies of five climbers are found on Europe’s highest mountain

Five bodies have been found on Europe’s highest mountain after they ‘strayed from the path’ amid ‘rapidly deteriorating weather conditions’.

On Friday Russian officials said rescuers discovered a survivor with the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ climbers, who are believed to be Bosnian, on Mount Elbrus. 

Previously, authorities said they had recovered two bodies and were searching for three more out of a group of seven climbing the mountain, in southern Russia.

The local prosecutor’s office said: ‘According to investigators, on July 24, a group of seven climbers – foreign nationals – was climbing Mount Elbrus. 

‘The following evening, due to rapidly deteriorating weather conditions, the group strayed from the route.’

Officials said one of the alpinists went down and told authorities that ‘two members of the group had fallen ill at an alтιтude of 5,100 meters and died.’

They added: ‘Subsequently, rescuers found another surviving climber and the bodies of three other climbers who had died.’

Bosnia’s foreign minister, Elmedin Konakovic, confirmed reports of the deaths, which he called ‘a major tragedy’.

Between 15 and 30 climbers die on Mount Elbrus, in southern Russia, every year (File image)

A cable car running above the slopes of Mount Elbrus near Terskol, Russia’s Kabardino-Balkarian Republic

Mount Elbrus is Europe’s highest peak standing at 5,642 meters, and is a popular, though challenging, mountaineering destination.   

The mountain sees an estimated 15 to 30 deaths each year, often involving unprepared climbers caught out by sudden weather changes.

Terrifying moment enormous avalanche engulfs ski resort at Europe’s tallest mountain

In January, an enormous avalanche engulfed a ski resort on Mount Elbrus, sending tourists running for their lives.

Dramatic footage of the terrifying moment taken on Mount Elbrus showed a torrent of snow tearing down the mountainside on Thursday.

People watched in horror from a car park at Elbrus Resort in Kabardino-Balkaria as the avalanche barreled towards them.

Some tried to run, but were quickly swallowed by the huge snow cloud, with the area turning completely white within seconds. Fortunately, no deaths were reported.

Authorities had closed sections of the mountain and shut down the cable car service on January 10 due to fears of an avalanche amid dangerous weather conditions.