A tourist is stuck close to the crater of the highest active volcano in Eurasia with rescuers unable to reach him by foot or helicopter.
The ailing man is stranded some 650ft below the rim of the giant 15,580 ft Klyuchevskaya Sopka in Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula.
Spewing volcanic activity and a melting high-altitude glacier is preventing rescuers getting close to the tourist, aged 35.
Rescuers attempt to scale the giant 15,580ft volcano, Klyuchevskaya Sopka, in Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula to rescue a stranded tourist
Spewing volcanic activity and a melting high-altitude glacier is preventing rescuers getting close to the tourist, aged 35 (file image of Klyuchevskaya Sopka)
A helicopter bid to lower rescuers onto the rim of the volcano so they could climb down to the man had to be aborted due to extreme toxic gas and vapour emissions and atrocious weather.
The tourist was spotted from the air, say reports. A video shows how a separate attempt to climb up to the hiker – whose family name is Tsvetkov, from Vladivostok – failed due to severe rockfalls on the volcano’s slopes.
The rescuers radioed back to their base warning that boulders and stones were falling on them – and it would result in certain death if they went further.
It is believed they were agonisingly close to Tsvetkov’s position – perhaps as little as 200 ft from his sleeping bag.
The rescue group leader radioed this dramatic message: ‘There is an ice field with stones above us.
The stranded tourist, whose family name is Tsvetkov, was spotted from the air after his travel companion, Filimonov, climbed back down the volcano to get help
One group of rescuers were forced to turn back and leave the stranded tourist because boulders were falling on them and they feared for their own lives
‘It is warming and we are just constantly dodging the falling rocks.
‘Now we are hiding behind a little ridge and going down.
‘Definitely we would be killed if we carry on.
‘This is 100 percent true.
‘The sun is not even fully raised yet.
‘There are no options for us.
‘We’re not on a suicide mission here.
‘It will be suicide to keep going.’
It is believed one rescue group were agonisingly close to Tsvetkov’s position – perhaps as little as 200 ft from his sleeping bag before being forced to turn back
A helicopter bid to lower rescuers onto the rim of the volcano so they could climb down to the man had to be aborted due to extreme toxic gas and vapour emissions and atrocious weather
The stranded man – who was suffering altitude sickness – has been on the active stratovolcano for one week, according to reports.
His legs failed after reaching high altitude, according to reports.
His fellow climber – named Filimonov – climbed down to the nearest village to raise the alarm but was unable to go back up to reach his friend due to a blizzard with wind gusts of up to 100 ft a second.
Rescuers are working on the assumption that the tourist is still alive.
The Kamchatka Ministry of Emergencies made clear they had been forced to abort rescue attempts today (MON).
A rescuer attempts to climb up Klyuchevskaya Sopka to reach the stranded tourist who has so far been unreachable
A rescue team begins their trek up the 15,580ft volcano in another bid to reach a stranded climber
‘Search activities are not possible now due to an increase in temperature, as well as ongoing volcanic activity, mean the glacier located at the top is melting,’ said a statement.
‘Mudflows and powerful rockfalls are constantly observed on the slopes, along the ascent path, which is the only route to the victim’s location.’
Klyuchevskaya Sopka was formed some 6,000 years ago and its first recorded eruption was in 1697.
Regarded as Russia’s most dangerous volcano, in March this year it spewed ash clouds 20,000 ft into the air.
The pair did not inform the authorities before climbing the volcano, said officials.
The volcano is some 4,225 miles east of Moscow.