travel
February 22, 2026
Tragic footage circles the world: Bus full of tourists falls through the ice of Lake Baikal
Disturbing footage and photos from the accident site have circulated the world after a tragedy on Lake Baikal, where a tourist bus broke through the ice and ended up at a depth of 18 meters. According to official information from Russian authorities, seven Chinese tourists and a Russian driver died in the accident, while only one person managed to survive. The governor of the Irkutsk region, Igor Kobzev, confirmed that divers, with the help of underwater cameras, located and recovered the bodies of the victims. The vehicle, according to initial information, fell into a crack in the ice about three meters wide.
TL;DR
- A tourist bus carrying Chinese tourists fell through the ice of Lake Baikal, sinking 18 meters.
- Seven Chinese tourists and the Russian driver died; one person survived.
- Divers recovered the bodies of the victims.
- The vehicle reportedly fell into a three-meter-wide crack in the ice.
- The governor of the Irkutsk region warned against traveling on the frozen lake without permission.
- A criminal investigation has been launched.
- Lake Baikal is a popular winter tourist destination, but experts warn of its dangers.
- Six other people were rescued from vehicles trapped on the ice during the same weekend.
- A Chinese tourist died in a similar incident in late January.
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