In Kyrgyzstan, the search for three climbers – two Belarusians and one Lithuanian citizen Sergejus Rubcovas – continues on Sunday.
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Kyrgyz media, citing the country’s rescue services, reports that the climbers disappeared after climbing the Kurumdy peak, about 6613 meters high. Local rescuers, border guards, special equipment, and volunteer mountain guides are involved in the search. Rescuers conducted searches at about 5,000 meters altitude as well.
S. Rubcovas’s brother Arturas told 15min on Sunday that this was by no means Sergejus’s first such trip.
“This is probably the seventh or eighth climb in the mountains in general. From four to five thousand meters altitude,” he said.
Two years ago, S. Rubcovas also climbed a higher mountain. He had known the two Belarusian climbers for a long time.
According to his brother, Sergejus’s companions were very experienced climbers who had previously climbed seven-thousand-meter peaks in the former Soviet Union territory.
“The group is small but experienced. Sergejus probably had the least experience, but he was also experienced,” said A. Rubcovas.
Reached the summit and started descending
According to relatives’ data, the trio successfully reached the Kurumdy summit.
“They climbed to the summit, descended from the summit. The last message was that in two days they would probably be down and that transport would meet them,” said the missing Lithuanian’s brother.
According to him, the group did not have satellite communication or it was not working, but in certain places they managed to catch a mobile signal from the Chinese side.
After the last message, the climbers started descending but did not reach the base camp.
“The last connection was recorded at about 6000 meters altitude,” said A. Rubcovas.
Public Kyrgyz media reports also indicate that the trio lost contact after a successful climb, starting to descend towards the base camp.
Found an empty tent, but the brother explained an important detail
On Sunday, Kyrgyz media reported that rescuers found the missing climbers’ tent in the mountains, but no people were inside.
However, S. Rubcovas’s brother explained that this news does not necessarily mean that the climbers should be searched for exactly at that location.
According to him, the group took two tents to the mountains.
“They just used one tent as storage – they dropped their unnecessary items there. They had two tents,” explained A. Rubcovas to 15min.
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According to him, it was this lower tent left behind that was found.
“So to speak, they found the storage tent. The guys with the other tent are higher up,” said the missing climber’s brother.
High-altitude climbers and a helicopter are needed
Relatives have contacted local services, but according to A. Rubcovas, one of the biggest problems is the search location itself.
He said that local rescuers who went on the first searches are not high-altitude climbers, so they can only reach part of the area.
“They climbed somewhat, as much as they could inspect. Now we are looking for a group of climbers who could climb higher, and we are looking for a helicopter that could carry out search operations,” he said.
Flights at such altitude are also not simple – a suitable helicopter, an experienced crew, and favorable weather conditions are needed.
According to A. Rubcovas, drones were also used, but their capabilities are limited by altitude, flight range, and battery life.
“We need more serious guys, we need more serious equipment,” he said.
Kyrgyz media reported on Sunday that five rescuers with special equipment, five border service employees, and two volunteer guides from Switzerland are participating in the search.
“There could be a hundred and one versions”
The family does not yet know what could have happened to the climbers.
According to A. Rubcovas, they have not received information about very bad weather or a recorded avalanche.
However, Kurumdy is a technically difficult peak, and many different circumstances can cause an accident at high altitude.
“What could have happened in the mountains? This mountain, to my knowledge, is technically difficult. Even other companions who stayed home have no version. There could be a hundred and one. We know nothing,” he said.
“We have not lost hope yet. It is little, but we have not lost it. We are doing what we can,” added S. Rubcovas’s brother.
Currently, the main goal of the relatives is to raise funds for the high-altitude search team and the helicopter.
According to A. Rubcovas, the nearest possible flight will also depend on the weather: Monday’s forecast, according to his data, is not favorable, and a better weather window is expected on Tuesday.
Relatives have previously publicly appealed to the public for financial help for the search and rescue operation and urged sharing information about the missing climbers.
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