Five Bosnian Hikers Killed on Elbrus, Cat Found with Their Bodies

Elbrus Bosnian hikers cat Macika rescue investigation

On 28 July 2026 a seven‑person expedition from Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina attempted the ascent of Mount Elbrus (5 642 m). Harsh weather – wind gusts of 70 km/h and an abrupt storm – hit the group at over 5 000 m. Five climbers died: Almir Krivdić, Nermin Talami, Dr Meliha Čaušević, and the couple Alma and Denis Okanović. Two members, Haris Adilović and Kemal Vidimlić, survived after one of them descended to summon help. Russian rescue teams located the bodies and also recovered the cat Macika, a longtime companion of the Okanović couple, which was found in their backpack. The remains of the five Bosnian citizens have been transferred to the Kabardino‑Balkar medical‑forensic institute for autopsy. The Bosnian Mountain Rescue Service (GSS) from Zenica is set to travel to Russia to accompany the survivors back home. Russian alpinist Alina Pekova warned that many underestimate Elbrus’s difficulty, contributing to such accidents, and Russian authorities have opened a formal investigation into the tragedy.

Entities

Alma Okanović · Denis Okanović · Gorska služba spasavanja Zenica (GSS Zenica) · Haris Adilović · Kemal Vidimlić · Macika

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] Russian authorities launched a formal investigation into the Elbrus deaths. depo.ba · www.zenit.ba
[● 3 SOURCES] The cat Macika, a longtime companion of Alma and Denis Okanović, was found dead in their backpack. n24.ba · www.dalmacijadanas.hr · face.ba
[● 2 SOURCES] The bodies of the five Bosnian climbers were sent to Kabardino‑Balkaria for forensic examination. depo.ba · www.zenit.ba
[● 6 SOURCES] Five Bosnian citizens died on Mount Elbrus during the July 2026 expedition. n24.ba · www.dalmacijadanas.hr · tvsa.ba · depo.ba · www.zenit.ba · +1 more
[● 3 SOURCES] Russian rescue teams conducted the search and retrieved the bodies on Elbrus. www.dalmacijadanas.hr · tvsa.ba · depo.ba
[● 3 SOURCES] Two Bosnian climbers, Haris Adilović and Kemal Vidimlić, survived the Elbrus incident. www.dalmacijadanas.hr · tvsa.ba · depo.ba
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Bosnian Mountain Rescue Service (GSS) from Zenica planned to travel to Russia to escort the survivors back home. tvsa.ba
[● 2 SOURCES] Russian alpinist Alina Pekova warned that climbers often underestimate the difficulty of Elbrus. www.072info.com · www.vijesti.ba