Car falls through ice on Lake Baikal, killing tourists: what we know

IRKUTSK, February 20. /TASS/. A car carrying nine people, including Chinese tourists, fell through the ice of Lake Baikal in the Irkutsk Region, killing several individuals.

A criminal case was opened, the Russian Investigative Committee said.

TASS has compiled the key facts about the incident.

- At around 7:30 a.m. GMT, an off-road vehicle carrying nine people fell through the ice on Lake Baikal near Cape Khoboi.

- The Emergencies Ministry said that two pieces of equipment and five rescuers from the Baikal Search and Rescue squad had arrived at the site.