By Reuters | Posted by TOE

At least 11 people were killed ‌and six others injured after ‌an avalanche struck a group of ​climbers in Russia’s Kabardino-Balkaria region in the North Caucasus, local emergency services said.

The avalanche swept down Mount ‌Mizhirgi, one ⁠of the highest peaks in Russia’s North Caucasus, at ⁠around 5 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) on Sunday, hitting a ​group of ​33 climbers.

As ​of 9 a.m. ‌local time on Monday, 10 climbers had made their own way down the mountain, while the fate of six others remained ‌unknown, emergency services ​said.

More than 50 emergency ​workers ​were involved in the ‌search and rescue operation, ​but efforts ​were being hampered by difficult terrain and a high risk ​of ‌further avalanches, they said.