CHERKESSK/MOSCOW, February 16 (RIA Novosti) - Five climbers trapped in a mountain gorge after an avalanche in southern Russia have been rescued, a local official said.

The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said the rescue operation in the Ulu-Talla Gorge in the southern Russian republic of Karachayevo-Circassia had involved a Mi-8 helicopter of the Russian border guards.

The helicopter is now en route to Cherkessk, the capital of the North Caucasus republic.

The climbers first ran into trouble on Tuesday morning about 116 kilometers (70 miles) to the south of the republic's capital. An avalanche killed one member of nine-strong group before another snow-slide later claimed a further three lives.