According to information from local authorities, among the deceased are seven tourists and a 44-year-old driver, who was a local resident. Among the victims was also a child born in 2013. Only one tourist managed to survive.
The deceased family from China consisted of a married couple, their 14-year-old child, and a relative. They all arrived in the region as independent tourists, as confirmed by the governor of the Irkutsk region, Igor Kobzev.
The vehicle fell into an ice crack about three meters wide, and the depth in that area is 18 meters.
According to preliminary data, the tourists did not use the services of tour operators and made direct arrangements with the driver. The surviving passenger is currently at the recreation center, where investigators plan to interrogate him.
The governor also noted that the ice crossing on Olkhon is not yet open, and venturing onto the ice is strictly prohibited, as it can pose a deadly danger.
