Belarusian Tourists Killed By Avalanche In Russia

MURMANSK, Russia -- Rescue workers have found the bodies of four Belarusian tourists killed by an avalanche in Russia's northwestern region of Murmansk, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.

Two other tourists from Belarus survived the March 8 avalanche in the Khibini Mountains and managed to extricate themselves from the snow. They searched for their friends but could not find them.

The survivors reached a village the next day.

Officials in Murmansk say the Belarusians did not register with the local search-and-rescue office before heading for the mountains, which delayed the launch of rescue operations.