Zenica holds commemoration for five mountaineers killed on Mount Elbrus

The city of Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, held a large-scale commemoration and funeral for five mountaineers who died on July 25 during an ascent of Mount Elbrus in Russia. The deceased have been identified as spouses Alma and Denis Okanović, Dr. Meliha Čaušević, Nermin Talam, and Almir Krivdić. The victims were members of the Zenica Mountain Rescue Service and the Vedro Mountaineering Society.

Two members of the seven-person expedition, Haris Adilović and Kemal Vidimlić, survived the tragedy. The commemoration took place at the Bosnian National Theater in Zenica, followed by a joint funeral service and burial at the Prašnice cemetery. The Mayor of Zenica, Fuad Kasumović, declared August 18 a Day of Mourning for the city.

Separately, Russian emergency services have launched a search and rescue operation for a different group of eight mountaineers reported missing on the southern slope of Mount Elbrus after failing to make contact at their scheduled time.