A sightseeing trip turned into a nightmare after a tourist vehicle plunged through the ice of Lake Baikal — the world’s deepest freshwater lake — killing eight people, including a child.
The deadly accident happened Friday, Feb. 20, when a bus carrying a local driver and at least seven Chinese tourists broke through unstable ice and sank into the frigid waters of the massive Siberian lake.
Regional Governor Igor Kobzev confirmed the tragedy in a series of posts on Telegram, warning that driving onto the lake’s surface is currently banned — and potentially fatal.
“I would like to remind you once again that going out onto the ice of Lake Baikal is not just prohibited right now. It is mortally dangerous,” Kobzev wrote. “Lake Baikal is unforgiving.”
According to officials, the vehicle became wedged in a crack roughly 10 feet wide. The water below was about 59 feet deep.
Rescue teams deployed underwater cameras and divers to locate the victims. Initially, five bodies were identified — including the 44-year-old local driver and four tourists. Among the group was a married couple, their 14-year-old child and a female relative. One person reportedly managed to escape.
By the following day, divers had recovered eight bodies total: the driver and seven Chinese nationals.
Authorities say an investigation is underway to determine exactly what went wrong. The Russian Investigative Committee confirmed the probe is ongoing.
The governor didn’t mince words after the tragedy.
“Before you decide to drive onto the ice, think about it. Is it really worth it?” Kobzev urged travelers. “Some have already made the wrong choice. The lesson was fatal. And there will be no second chance.”
Disturbingly, officials say another SUV carrying a woman and child was discovered trapped in ice just three miles from shore the same day. A separate vehicle with four vacationers partially sank the following morning but those passengers were rescued.
In a troubling twist, the Irkutsk regional tourism office later reported that the ill-fated bus tour was operated by an unregistered company.
Kobzev has since ordered inspections aimed at cracking down on illegal operators offering risky excursions across the frozen lake.
Following the tragedy, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov extended condolences to China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, stating that Russian authorities are conducting a full-scale investigation.
Lake Baikal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Siberia’s most popular tourist attractions, draws thousands each year for its dramatic winter landscapes. But officials say conditions can shift rapidly — and the ice, no matter how solid it looks, can turn deadly in seconds.
As authorities work to piece together what happened, one message is echoing across the region: nature doesn’t negotiate.
1 child and apparently 7 chopped liver.