Bus with Chinese tourists crashes through ice on Russia’s Lake Baikal, killing 8

Tragedy Strikes as Tour Bus Carrying Chinese Tourists Plunges through Ice on Russia’s Lake Baikal

In a devastating incident, a tour bus carrying Chinese tourists met with a tragic end as it plunged through the ice on Russia’s Lake Baikal, resulting in the loss of eight lives, including seven Chinese tourists and the driver. The accident occurred when the bus was crossing the frozen lake on Friday, with one Chinese tourist managing to escape, as confirmed by Irkutsk regional Gov. Igor Kobzev in a Telegram post on Saturday.

The bus fell into a 3-meter-wide ice crevasse in the 18-meter-deep lake, as reported by Russia’s Emergencies Ministry. Rescue operations were carried out using underwater cameras before divers were deployed to the scene. In response to the tragic event, a criminal investigation has been initiated by the regional prosecutor’s office, with reports surfacing that the bus tour was operated by an unregistered entity.

Lake Baikal, renowned as the world’s deepest freshwater lake and a prominent tourist destination in Russia, has witnessed a surge in Chinese visitors in recent years following the implementation of a mutual visa-free regime between Moscow and Beijing.