ROSTOV-ON-DON, May 16 (RIA Novosti) - The bodies of eight climbers who perished in an attempt on Europe's highest peak last week will be retrieved by helicopter if weather conditions allow, an emergencies official said Tuesday.
Two groups of 12 climbers from Russia and Ukraine went missing on Mount Elbrus in south Russia late on May 9 at an altitude of 4,300 meters (14,000 feet). Nine bodies have been found, and the search is continuing for two more on the southeast and east slopes of the mountain, rescuers said.
One climber survived the tragedy.
"As of 7 p.m. Monday, the bodies of eight mountain climbers were taken down on stretchers to below Pastukhov rocks [about 5,000 meters, or 16,000 feet up]," the official said. "If the weather allows, they will be brought down by helicopter."
The body of the ninth climber was found Tuesday morning, rescuers said.
