Kamchatka: An evacuation operation has begun for tourists stranded near the Tolbachik volcano in Russia’s Kamchatka region after heavy rains caused flooding and severely damaged road access.
Helicopters deployed for rescue
The stranded tourists are being moved from the “Dead Forest” area by helicopter to a location accessible by road. From there, they are expected to continue their journey by bus to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
A group of 79 tourists was reported to be walking from the Kleshnya area towards the evacuation point. Three buses have been sent to the Krapivnaya road junction to transport the visitors once they reach the accessible section.
Authorities expect up to 115 people to be evacuated from the affected area.
Tourists from several countries affected
The stranded group includes visitors from Russia, China, Belarus and Israel, as well as Azerbaijani citizen Tatyana Dolivets.
The Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia and Azerbaijan’s Consulate General in Yekaterinburg have been in contact with local authorities and members of the Azerbaijani community in Kamchatka while monitoring the evacuation.
The tourists became stranded after heavy rainfall caused a river to overflow. Floodwaters reportedly washed away around 30 kilometres of road, leaving the area inaccessible to normal road transport.
The evacuation is being coordinated as authorities work to bring all the stranded visitors to safety. The incident has highlighted the risks faced by tourists travelling through remote volcanic areas, where severe weather can quickly disrupt transport and access.