Volcano rescuers try to save Czechs

Russian rescuers are scaling a volcano in Russia's far east, to rescue a party of Czech climbers trapped amid deteriorating conditions and fears of an eruption.

One seriously-injured Czech man died of his injuries on the mountain, officials said on Wednesday.

Earlier attempts to reach the trapped climbers by helicopter had to be abandoned because of thick fog shrouding the volcano.

Reports say night-time temperatures have been plunging well below zero, fresh snow has been falling, and the volcano is spewing smoke and ash in what could be a prelude to an eruption.

Five Russians from a local search-and-rescue service began climbing the volcano early on Wednesday to try to reach the Czechs, who have lost radio contact with the rescuers.

Kamchatka's volcanoes remain popular challenges for climbers

Reports said they met one group of climbers descending the mountain with the body of their dead friend. But four other people remain trapped higher up the mountain.

The Klyuchevskaya volcano, on the remote Kamchatka peninsula, is active and suffers rockfalls, earthquakes and gas escapes.

But the 4,750-metre (15,700-foot) peak remains a popular destination for climbers, who try to reach the top to peer into the crater.

The man who died is believed to have suffered serious head injuries when he was hit by a falling rock.

The alarm was raised by three members of the party who managed to get off the volcano and alert the emergency services.

Russian officials have criticised the 20-strong group for attempting to scale the volcano without the help of local guides.

The four people left on the mountain are thought to be at an altitude of of 4,000 metres (13,000 feet).

The Czechs began their climb on 4 August, one day before the accident happened.