Tourists die after avalanche on Georgian mountain

Two foreign tourists have died and two more are missing after an avalanche accident in Svaneti, in the northwest region of Georgia.

Georgian emergency services and rescue teams have searched the mountain for the deceased and missing tourists following Thursday evening’s avalanche.

A group of five German and French extreme sportsmen were free-riding on a mountain in the Ushguli village, which sits at the foot of Shkhara – the highest mountain in Georgia – when the avalanche fell.

Two of the group died, two remain missing and one survived. The survivor made his way down the mountain and informed the police about the accident.

Today’s rescue mission to find the deceased and missing tourists ended when authorities found two bodies. Two of the group are still missing.

The rescue operation was suspended following a high risk of avalanche danger. The mission will be restored once the danger had passed, the Interior Ministry said.

The survivor and two deceased have been transferred to Tbilisi.

The Shkhara mountain is the third highest peak in the Caucasus region.