According to news from the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations on the 20th, the bodies of seven victims have been found in the ice collapse accident on Lake Baikal, and divers are currently planning to launch salvage operations.
The Chinese Consulate General in Irkutsk confirmed to Xinhua News Agency reporters on the 20th that a vehicle carrying eight Chinese tourists fell into a large crack in the ice near Olkhon Island in Lake Baikal that day. One Chinese tourist was rescued and came ashore, while the remaining seven Chinese tourists sank into the lake and drowned.
The driver involved is a 44-year-old local man
The rescued person is a man from Jiangsu
There was a rise in temperature in the local area before the incident.
According to the Yangtze Evening News, the driver involved is a 44-year-old local man who once served as a children's football coach. It is said that he directly took orders privately to organize the ice tour and was not a formal travel agency.
The local area has confirmed the identities of four tourists (including one survivor). They are a family from China, including a husband and wife, a 14-year-old child, and a female relative. The identities of the remaining four Chinese tourists are still being verified.
According to reports from Shenzhen Newspaper Group, the rescued person is a man from Jiangsu Province and his current health condition is stable.
According to the "Irkutsk Komsomolskaya Pravda" website, the accident occurred near the Sagan-Hushun Cape on Olkhon Island. Public information shows that Olkhon Island is the largest island in Lake Baikal. It is located in the west of the middle of Lake Baikal. The island is 73 kilometers long, 15 kilometers wide, and covers an area of more than 700 square kilometers. The lake coastline is 210 kilometers long.
A UAZ van carried a total of 9 people, including 1 local driver and 8 Chinese tourists. One Chinese tourist successfully escaped by rescuing himself, but the whereabouts of the remaining eight are unknown. The police and the Baikal search and rescue unit of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (МЧС) rushed to the scene to carry out search and rescue, but the vehicle quickly sank into the water.
According to local media reports, cracks have appeared on the ice surface of Lake Baikal due to recent warming. The ice passage to Olkhon Island has not yet been opened. Driving on the ice is extremely dangerous and the local government has strictly prohibited it.
Meteorological data shows that the temperature in Central Siberia, where Lake Baikal is located, has been rising since February 15. By February 19, before the incident, the maximum temperature in the lakeside city of Irkutsk was as high as 13.8 degrees, and the daily average temperature was 2.3 degrees, both setting the highest February values in more than 100 years of local meteorological records. The maximum temperature was more than 20 degrees warmer than the same period in normal years.
However, the car was still driving on the ice, and according to witnesses, after seeing the cracks in the ice, the driver did not stop or go around, but tried to speed through, causing the vehicle to fall directly.
In addition, this tour group is suspected of not being officially registered. According to sources, the driver is "a person who illegally organizes ice tours on Lake Baikal" and is hired by tour organizers to receive orders from Chinese tourists at prices far below market prices.
The Russian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal investigation into "ice accidents leading to the death of a group of tourists." The investigation is being carried out for the crime of providing tourism services that did not meet safety requirements, causing the death of more than 2 people and dereliction of duty. The specific cause and conditions of the accident are being ascertained.
A tourist witnessed the incident at the scene the day before:
There are cracks everywhere
On the evening of February 20, a Chinese tourist who had been to the site of the incident the day before the incident told reporters that the incident occurred near the "Three Brothers Rock" on Olkhon Island. Her group happened to have been to the incident site on the 19th, and the ice there was full of cracks. When returning, the driver had to find the way back for a long time before finding the way he came.
Ice cracks photographed by tourists (Source: Internet)
The reporter learned that the incident took place near the "Three Brothers Rock" on Olkhon Island in Lake Baikal. A tourist who visited the area near the incident on the 19th told Jimu News that she learned about the incident from the tour guide. Eight Chinese tourists and one driver fell into the water, and only one tourist was rescued. Currently, all local travel agencies have canceled their northern and southern routes, and vehicles are no longer allowed to go to the lake. She went near the "Three Brothers Rock" on the 19th. When she returned, there were ice cracks along the way. In order to avoid the ice cracks, the driver had to find the way for a long time before returning to the way he came. When she was taking photos near the ice crack, she heard the sound of the ice cracking and ran away in fright. At present, their trip to Olkhon Island has ended and they will return to Irkutsk by hovercraft on the 21st. The itinerary has not been affected.
Another tourist said that he saw a car sinking from the ice crack of Lake Baikal at around 2 pm local time on the 20th. The vehicle completely sank within a minute. But he didn't know the details.
Two incidents occurred within one month,
previous accident
The vehicle drove into an ice crevice and rolled over
On January 28, a UAZ off-road vehicle (commonly known as a "van") carrying 10 Chinese tourists fell into a crack in the ice while driving on the ice of Lake Baikal and overturned, killing one Chinese tourist and injuring four others. A local criminal investigation was launched. According to the Chinese Consulate General in Irkutsk, the tourists who were killed were members of a Jiangsu tour group.
This is an accident vehicle taken on Lake Baikal in Russia on January 28. A car carrying tourists overturned on the ice of Lake Baikal in Russia on the 28th, resulting in the death of a Chinese tourist. Source: Xinhua News Agency
Chinese Consulate reminder
Chinese citizens traveling to Lake Baikal in Russia in winter
be safe
1. It is strictly prohibited to cross the ice in violation of regulations. Be careful when going on the ice. The ice surface of Lake Baikal is full of cracks and pressure bulges that are difficult to detect with the naked eye, making it very dangerous. Please do not trust "veteran drivers" or "experienced drivers" when riding a vehicle through natural ice or unopened ice roads. When driving on icy roads approved by local authorities, you should also pay attention and drive with caution. For transportation on the ice, priority is given to taking a hovercraft.
2. Screen the ground pick-up service qualifications and refuse to operate vehicles illegally. Illegal operating vehicles often lack necessary safety guarantees and emergency response capabilities. They often choose dangerous routes in order to avoid inspection or pursue excitement. It is also difficult to protect their rights after an accident. Please be sure to book transportation and travel services through formal channels, confirm that the carrier has legal passenger transport qualifications and purchase insurance, and do not choose unqualified operating vehicles for cheap or temporary convenience.
3. Keep warm and keep warm, and pay attention to the weather forecast. The winter weather in the Lake Baikal region is severely cold, with temperatures staying below -20°C for a long time, with the lowest ever falling below -50°C. It is also windy and snowy, and the outdoor temperature is extremely low. Please pay close attention to the local weather forecast and road conditions before traveling, prepare enough cold-proof clothing, travel in groups as much as possible, and keep communication open. If you feel unwell or have an accident, please stop your trip immediately and seek help.
The rollover vehicle is called a "little steel cannon"
Some tourists said there were no handrails or seat belts on the bus
After the incident, many netizens left messages in the comment area questioning whether the rollover vehicle was a "black car"? Is the car used by a regular travel agency?
"When visiting Lake Baikal, everyone basically takes this kind of car, which is called a 'little steel cannon' in the local area." Mr. An, a tourist, said that through the hotel or B&B where they are staying, tourists can book this kind of vehicle for ice fun.
Usually the vehicle travels very fast and there is an obvious bumpy feeling when riding. However, there are no handrails or seat belts on the car to ensure safety.
Mr. An said that "small steel cannon" cars can usually seat up to 10 people including the driver, and generally will not be overloaded. The cost of booking this vehicle is RMB 400 per person, which includes full-day tour route transportation and a lunch.
