# Bosnia mountaineering tragedy on Elbrus

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bosnia-mountaineering-tragedy-on-elbrus
> Updated: 2026-08-15T08:18:04.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 3.

In late July 2026, a seven-person Bosnian expedition from Zenica attempted to summit Mount Elbrus (5,642 m) in Russia. Harsh weather at over 5,000 m, including 70 km/h wind gusts and a sudden storm, resulted in a fatal accident. Five climbers died: Alma and Denis Okanović, Nermin Talami, Almir Krivdić, and Dr. Meliha Čaušević. Survivors Haris Adelović and Kemal Vidimlić were able to summon help.

Russian rescue teams recovered the bodies and the Okanović couple’s cat, Macika, which was found in their backpack. The remains were transferred to the Kabardino-Balkar medical-forensic institute for autopsy. Russian authorities opened a formal investigation, while Russian alpinist Alina Pekova noted that many underestimate the difficulty of Elbrus. Nenad Stevanic, President of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, expressed his condolences, stating, “Duboko me potresla vest o tragičnoj nesreći na planini Elbrus u kojoj je živote izgubilo pet planinara iz BiH.”

The bodies of the five hikers have since arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A commemoration is scheduled for August 18, 2026, at the Bosnian National Theatre in Zenica, with funeral services to follow at the Čaršijska Mosque and burial at the Prašnica City Cemetery.

## Claims

- Five Bosnian citizens died on Mount Elbrus during the July 2026 expedition. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Two Bosnian climbers, Haris Adilović and Kemal Vidimlić, survived the Elbrus incident. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The cat Macika, a longtime companion of Alma and Denis Okanović, was found dead in their backpack. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Russian alpinist Alina Pekova warned that climbers often underestimate the difficulty of Elbrus. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Russian authorities launched a formal investigation into the Elbrus deaths. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-15: Bosnia and Kosovo report tragic deaths and war-era remains

The bodies of five hikers killed on Mount Elbrus have returned to Bosnia and Herzegovina for burial, while police in Kosovo discovered remains of three people in a suspected 1999 war mass grave.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bosnia-and-kosovo-report-tragic-deaths-and-war-era-remains

### 2026-07-28: Five Bosnian Hikers Killed on Elbrus, Cat Found with Their Bodies

Five Bosnian climbers died on Elbrus amid a sudden storm; two survived, their cat Macika was found with the bodies, and Russian authorities opened an investigation.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bosnias-gss-zenica-mourns-five-members-killed-on-russias-elbrus

### 2026-07-25: Nenad Stevanic Condoles Families of Bosnian Hikers Killed on Russia’s Elbrus

Nenad Stevanic mourned five Bosnian hikers who died on Russia’s Elbrus, offering condolences and wishing recovery for two injured survivors.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nenad-stevanic-condoles-families-of-bosnian-hikers-killed-on-russias-elbrus

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Cite as: Bosnia mountaineering tragedy on Elbrus. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bosnia-mountaineering-tragedy-on-elbrus