The mountaineers were part of a group of nine tourists from Moscow, Vladivostok and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky who attempted February 18 to ascend Eurasia's highest volcano, Klyuchevskoi, but due to the volcano's increase activity they decided to climb the nearby Mount Kamen instead.
Emergency services on Sunday received a signal that three alpinists had gone missing while descending on February 24 at an altitude of 2,400 meters (8,000 feet) above sea level in a snow storm, the press office said. The climbers who sent the emergency signal said they were in a cave at an altitude of 1,100 meters (over 3,000 feet), the press office said.
The emergencies ministry dispatched a helicopter to help the rescue effort, but the aircraft has not been able to fly so far due to unfavorable weather conditions, the press office said.
