The Holy Sea does not tolerate intruders: UAZ with tourists fell through the ice on Lake Baikal

Near the island of Olkhon on Lake Baikal on Friday, February 20, a tragedy occurred — a UAZ car went under the ice. According to local residents, there were eight tourists in the loaf cabin, the car fell through the water, and not everyone managed to escape. Six Chinese citizens were among the dead. Details and possible causes of the incident can be found in the Izvestia article.

UAZ with tourists drowned near Olkhon: what happened

On Friday, February 20, a tragedy involving a tourist car occurred near Cape Sagan-Khushun on Lake Baikal. According to preliminary information, a group of tourists was heading for an excursion to Cape Three Brothers, moving on the ice outside the official ferry to Olkhon, which remained closed at the time of the incident due to the unstable state of the ice.

Eyewitnesses report that while driving, the driver noticed a crack in the ice. Instead of stopping and dropping off the passengers, he tried to bridge the gap on the move. The UAZ ("loaf") car fell into a crack with its front part and began to rapidly sink under water.

According to local residents, tourists who were in the cabin and wearing seat belts tried to get out through the back door. However, there was not enough time to evacuate — the car quickly filled with water and sank into the depths.

Initially, it was reported that there were nine people in the cabin and two managed to escape. Later, the data was clarified: there were eight people in the car, and one tourist survived. Six Chinese citizens were among the dead. Information about the fate of the driver varies: according to some sources, he died along with the passengers, according to others, he managed to get out of the sinking car.

Causes of the incident

By the time of the tragedy, the official ice crossing in the direction of Olkhon had not been put into operation. Its opening was originally planned for February 12, then the dates were postponed to the 17th, however, due to unstable ice conditions, movement along the route was not allowed.

Despite the current ban, drivers continued to drive onto the ice outside the equipped crossing, risking their own safety and the lives of passengers. According to preliminary data, it was the movement along an unauthorized section with cracks and fractures that became a key factor in the tragedy.

Rescue services are currently working at the scene. The press service of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations in the Irkutsk region reported that the situation on Lake Baikal is being checked. Two pieces of equipment from the Baikal Rescue squad of the Ministry of Emergency Situations moved to the scene to carry out rescue operations.

The risks of winter tourism on Lake Baikal

Winter Baikal attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. Here you can see unique icy landscapes, go on excursions along the frozen surface of the lake, ride a khivus or just walk on the ice. However, such beauty often hides the serious risks that travelers face, especially if security measures are neglected.

Firstly, the ice on the lake is formed unevenly and is subject to the influence of weather conditions. Due to warm winters, the thickness of the ice can be unstable and insufficient even in the middle of the season, which creates a danger of people and equipment sinking under water. Rescuers and environmental services regularly warn that cracks, crevices and hidden gullies remain in many areas of the ice, especially under a layer of snow, which are difficult to notice visually.

It is important to note that going out and out on the ice is allowed only in specially equipped and officially open places, such as the ice crossing to Olkhon. Unofficial routes used by tourists to circumvent prohibitions or before the official opening of crossings pose an increased risk and are a frequent cause of incidents.

Embassies and consular services also warn foreign tourists about the difficult ice conditions on Lake Baikal and advise them to refrain from crossing the ice unaccompanied by experienced guides, as well as carefully check the qualifications of tour operators and the availability of licenses from transport companies.

In addition, the increase in tourist traffic increases the burden on security services: there are more frequent cases when people ignored restrictions, went out on the ice in the wrong places or exceeded the speed limit at official crossings. This exacerbates the situation and leads to additional incidents requiring the intervention of rescuers.