Avalanche
Twelve people were buried, one person was killed, and four others were injured yesterday when a human-made avalanche hit a ski resort in Russia’s Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia in the North Caucasus. Dombay sits at 5,350-feet on Mount Mussa-Achitara.
233 rescuers were working at the site, with bad weather hampering rescue operations. Six people have been rescued so far, and three are still missing.
The avalanche reportedly buried two ski equipment rental points, and a café was damaged. Up to twelve people were there when the avalanche struck.
The video above shows the dramatic moment an adult is seen running, carrying a child on skis, to protect them from the huge snowslide.
Reports said resort staff fired canons to loosen a snow build-up, but instead of crashing into trees as expected, an avalanche hit tourist facilities at an area that was supposed to be closed.
Dombay is an urban locality (a resort settlement) under the administrative jurisdiction of the town of republic significance of Karachayevsk in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Russia. As of the 2010 Census, its population was 657.
Dombay is situated within the Teberda Nature Reserve and is a popular tourist destination. The area attracts people for its skiing and hiking trails and the natural beauty of the Caucasus Mountains. The settlement is located at an elevation of 1,630 meters (5,350 ft) above sea level, with its skiing area occupying the slopes of Mount Mussa Achitara, between 1,800 meters (5,900 ft) and 3,200 meters (10,500 ft) above sea level. Dombay-Ulgen, the highest peak of the Dombay area, is 4,046 meters (13,274 ft). Dombay is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and glaciers all year round.
