Bus with Chinese tourists crashes through ice on Russia’s Lake Baikal, killing 8

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Associated PressFebruary 21, 2026 at 06:53 PM

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A bus carrying Chinese tourists crashed through the ice on Russia's Lake Baikal on Friday, resulting in the deaths of eight people. The victims included seven tourists and the Russian driver. The bus plunged into a three-meter-wide crevasse in an area where the lake is 18 meters deep. Russian authorities launched a diving operation and are investigating the incident, with a criminal probe opened by the regional prosecutor's office. The tour was reportedly operated by an unregistered company, according to the Irkutsk tourism office. Lake Baikal, the world's deepest freshwater lake, is a popular tourist destination in Russia.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Reuters 30% Russia’s Investigative Committee 40% Russia's Emergencies Ministry 50% Irkutsk ×360% Igor Kobzev 60% Chinese ×370% Russia ×380% Lake Baikal ×490%

Keywords

lake baikal 100% bus crash 90% chinese tourists 80% ice crevasse 70% accident 60% tourism 60% unregistered operator 50% russia 50% diving operation 40%