Five citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina have died while climbing Mount Elbrus in Russia’s Kabardino-Balkaria republic. The group was caught in severe weather at an altitude of more than 5,300 metres, according to Russian emergency services.

Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry (EMERCOM) said rescuers had recovered the bodies of two climbers and evacuated two surviving members of the expedition from the mountain. The survivors were taken to a medical facility.

Later, Russia’s Investigative Committee reported that the bodies of three more climbers had been located. Their evacuation has not yet been possible because of adverse weather conditions.

According to Russian law enforcement authorities, all five of the deceased were citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The expedition consisted of seven people in total. Bosnian media reported that all members of the group were residents of the city of Zenica, including a married couple and a doctor from a local hospital.

Mount Elbrus, located on the border between Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia, is the highest peak in both Russia and Europe. Although it is a popular destination for mountaineers, the mountain is known for its rapidly changing weather, which has been the cause of numerous fatal accidents.

The exact circumstances of the tragedy remain unclear. Authorities have not yet said what caused the incident or whether the climbers had registered their ascent with the rescue services before setting out.