Overview
- Authorities launched the operation after a woman reported her brother and two friends failed to return from a mountain trip in the Almaty region.
- An unmanned aerial vehicle first located one body near Peak Lokomotiv, and rescuers later found the other two in the same area around 3,700 meters.
- Low temperatures, thin air, avalanche danger and difficult terrain limited aviation options and slowed the progress of search teams.
- Roughly 80 personnel with 12 vehicles, four canine teams and four drones took part, and the bodies were carried on foot to the Medeu rescue post due to weather.
- Police received the recovered remains and ordered forensic medical examinations, with no cause of death released by officials.