At least 11 die in avalanche in Russia's North Caucasus

MOSCOW, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 people were killed, six others injured and six more missing after an avalanche struck a group of climbers in Russia's Kabardino-Balkaria Republic in the North Caucasus, the Russian Emergencies Ministry confirmed on Monday.

The group consisted of 33 people in total. The injured were transferred to local medical facilities, while rescue teams continued searching for those missing, the ministry said in a statement.

Ongoing search-and-rescue efforts have been hampered by difficult mountain terrain and adverse weather conditions, but authorities said operations will continue as conditions allow.

Russia's Investigative Committee has opened a probe into the incident.