Shortly after the rescue operation on Mt. Otgontenger began today (23rd October), rescuers retrieved ten bodies from the snow at a height of  3200 meters. According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), seven other people are still unaccounted for; three of them women.  

A total of 17 people went missing after an avalanche hit Mt Otgontenger on 21st of October. The following day, ten members of the mountaineering group managed to reach the bottom and were able to contact NEMA.

A group of 27 climbers aged between 30-50 began climbing on Saturday. However, the avalanche hit when they were 50 meters below the summit.

The rest of the missing mountaineers are feared dead as search operations continue, engaging 111 people, two helicopters and other vehicles. The families of the missing mountaineers have reached Zavkhan aimag.

Mt Otgontenger is one of the sacred mountains in Mongolia that are subject to state worship ceremonies. The last state worship ceremony on the mountain was held in July, 2016.