Rescuers have been searching for over two weeks for a Moscow resident who went missing while rafting on the Uchkulan mountain river in Karachay-Cherkessia.
The accident occurred on June 19. Two tourists were rafting on a catamaran when, at one point, they lost control against the powerful current and the vessel capsized. One of the men managed to reach the shore on his own, while the other was swept away by the rapid flow.
Personnel from the V. M. Dzeraev Karachay-Cherkessia Search and Rescue Squad (part of the Russian Emergencies Ministry) and specialists from the republic's emergency rescue service were deployed to the search operation immediately after the alert was received. During the operation, rescuers have surveyed islands, rapids, and the shoreline, covering a total distance of approximately 200 kilometers.
The Uchkulan is considered one of the region's most challenging mountain rivers. It is characterized by icy water, a swift current, a rocky riverbed, and numerous obstacles; consequently, falling into the water poses a lethal danger, even for experienced individuals.
The Emergencies Ministry noted that the tourists had not registered their rafting route with the agency and had set out on the river without a qualified instructor. According to rescuers, this constitutes a serious safety violation and significantly complicates the search operation.
Complex search operations on the turbulent rivers of the North Caucasus are currently underway in several regions this summer. While rescuers in Karachay-Cherkessia continue to search for the missing tourist, a similar operation in Essentuki has already been concluded without success.
Volunteers recently announced the end of the search for 17-year-old Alisa, who drowned in Essentuki. The search for the young woman lasted 13 days, involving volunteers from the Caucasian Mineral Waters region as well as Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Dagestan, Ingushetia, and Chechnya. However, the strong current of the Podkumok River—exacerbated by rainfall and rising water levels—prevented a successful outcome. Following the conclusion of the operation, the search headquarters in Essentuki and Pyatigorsk were shut down.
