https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident
Dyatlov Pass incident
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J
The
Dyatlov Pass incident (
Russian: Гибель тургруппы Дятлова) was an event in which nine
Russian hikers died in the northern
Ural Mountains between 1 and 2 February 1959, in uncertain circumstances. The experienced trekking group, who were all from the
Ural Polytechnical Institute, had established a camp on the slopes of
Kholat Syakhl, in an area now named in honour of the group's leader, Igor Dyatlov. During the night, something caused them to tear their way out of their tents and flee the campsite while inadequately dressed for the heavy snowfall and subzero temperatures.
After the group's bodies were discovered, an investigation by
Soviet authorities determined that six had died from
hypothermia while the other three showed signs of
physical trauma. One victim had a
fractured skull; two others had major chest fractures, one body was missing both its eyes, and one was missing a tongue. The investigation concluded that a "compelling natural force" had caused the deaths. Numerous theories have been put forward to account for the unexplained deaths, including animal attacks, hypothermia,
avalanche,
katabatic winds,
infrasound-induced panic, military involvement, or some combination of these.
Russia opened a new investigation into the incident in 2019, and its conclusions were presented in July 2020: that the cause of death was hypothermia due to a combination of an avalanche, forcing the group to leave their camp, combined with low visibility. Andrey Kuryakov, deputy head of the regional prosecutor's office, said: “It was a heroic struggle. There was no panic. But they had no chance to save themselves under the circumstances.”
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