Several tourists dead as car falls through ice on Lake Baikal

The accident occurred at around 7:30 a.m. GMT near Cape Khoboi, TASS reports.

According to the Emergencies Ministry, an off-road vehicle broke through the ice while traveling in the area.

Two pieces of equipment and five rescuers from the Baikal Search and Rescue squad were dispatched to the scene.

Preliminary data from the Investigative Committee indicate there were fatalities. A source at the regional prosecutor’s office told TASS that the vehicle was carrying a group of tourists and a driver. One tourist was rescued, while the whereabouts of the remaining passengers and the driver are still being determined.

Irkutsk Region Governor Igor Kobzev said the missing individuals are presumed dead.

Authorities stated that the ice crossing to Olkhon Island — where the vehicle fell through — was not officially open, and access to the ice had been prohibited.

The Investigative Committee for the Irkutsk Region has opened a criminal case under Part 3 of Article 238 of the Russian Criminal Code, concerning the provision of services that do not meet safety requirements resulting in the death of two or more persons by negligence, and Part 3 of Article 293, related to negligence.

The Prosecutor’s Office for the Olkhon district has also launched its own inquiry. District prosecutor Pavel Voikin traveled to the site to oversee the investigation.

Governor Kobzev added that the Chinese consulate in Irkutsk has been informed of the incident.