The Russian Emergencies Ministry’s Mil Mi-8 helicopter with rescuers on board has taken off from Chita to Kalarsky District to participate in search operation for 6 lost tourists. Tourists from Moscow were following adverse route through mountain rivers and didn’t come into contact at the designated time.

Rescuers examine remote area with rough terrain from the Kodar Ridge. The helicopter crew and rescuers will need several hours to find the group, as the route of the group is about 300 kilometers long and crosses 3 constituent entities – Transbaikalian Territory, Buryatia and Irkutsk Region.

Search operation by ground forces was declared inefficient due to length of the route and lack of roads. It was decided to examine the route from the helicopter, provided by the Krasnoyarsk Aircraft and Rescue Center of the Emergencies Ministry that took off today from Kalarsky District.

The group of rescuers, participating in the search and rescue operation, has all the necessary equipment for search operation in the mountains, as well as experienced in such operations.