In a tragic incident, seven bodies have been recovered from Lake Baikal in Siberia after a tour bus carrying eight Chinese tourists broke through the ice and plunged into the water. The event occurred on Friday when the ice cracked as the bus attempted to cross the frozen lake, according to the Russian emergency ministry.
Irkutsk regional governor, Igor Kobzev, reported via the Telegram app that one Chinese tourist managed to escape. Meanwhile, the region’s prosecutor’s office has launched a criminal investigation into the accident.
Rescuers employed an underwater camera to inspect the scene, and diving operations are planned. “The depth at the site of the accident is 18 metres (59 feet)," stated the ministry.
Lake Baikal, renowned as the world’s deepest freshwater lake and situated north of Mongolia, is a popular tourist destination. In recent years, Chinese tourism in Russia has surged, facilitated by closer bilateral relations and the introduction of a mutual visa-free travel regime.
Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News
