At least 11 people were killed and six ​others injured after an avalanche ‌struck a group of climbers in Russia's Kabardino-Balkaria region in the ​North Caucasus, local emergency ​services said.

The avalanche swept down ⁠Mount Mizhirgi, one of the ​highest peaks in Russia's North ​Caucasus, at around 5:00 pm local time (1400 GMT) on Sunday, hitting a ​group of 33 climbers.

As of ​9:00 am local time on Monday, 10 ‌climbers ⁠had made their own way down the mountain, while the fate of six others ​remained unknown, ​emergency ⁠services said.

More than 50 emergency workers were involved ​in the search and ​rescue ⁠operation, but efforts were being hampered by difficult terrain and ⁠a ​high risk of ​further avalanches, they said.