In Russia’s Arctic region, rescuers have suspended the search for a tourist from Belarus who went missing during ice floating in the first days of January. The decision was announced by the regional office of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry in the Murmansk Region, according to 51.RU.
According to the agency, search and rescue operations were conducted from January 1 to January 11, 2026. During that time, 229 km of coastline were surveyed, including 169 km on foot and 60 km from a Mi-8 helicopter. The operation was hampered by low temperatures, difficult ice conditions, dense fog and poor visibility. Due to the lack of results, a decision was made to suspend the search until weather conditions improve.
The case concerns a woman born in 1968 who was carried away by the current on the evening of January 1 in the area of the Tuloma River near the town of Kola. Rescue units began work on the day of the incident. In the first days, until January 5, searches were conducted only from the shore. It was not possible to deploy a helicopter immediately, as the Emergencies Ministry cited weather conditions unsuitable for flights.
The organizer of the ice floating event has been charged with providing services that did not meet safety requirements and that negligently resulted in a person’s death (Article 238, Part 2, Clause “v” of the Russian Criminal Code). An inspection also found that participants were issued wetsuits past their expiration date, while documents confirming mandatory certification were missing.
Earlier, a rescue training supervisor described the impact the tragedy had on ice floating in the region.
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Ice floating is a type of winter recreation in which a person floats in icy water (in an ice hole or among ice floes) wearing a special thermal insulated wetsuit that is worn over clothing.
