3 Russians die in Georgian avalanche

KAZBEGI, Georgia, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- The bodies of three Russian mountain climbers were recovered in Georgia where they were caught in an avalanche, regional emergency officials said.

The only survivor of the Thursday avalanche is a 16-year-old male who was taken to his home in Volgodonsk, ITAR-Tass reported Friday.

Yulia Starchenko, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Emergency Situations in North Ossetia, said a helicopter would carry the bodies to nearby Kazbegi and they would then be transported to Volgodonsk on Saturday.

Starchenko said the four climbers were trapped by the avalanche while on their descent from Mount Mkinvartsveri.