An elderly Japanese citizen died while trying to climb the 2,140-meter Avachinsky volcano in Russia's Kamchatka region, the regional emergency services said Monday.
The man, who was not identified by name in the report, started to feel unwell at 1,700 meters and soon lost consciousness, according to a statement on the emergency services' website. Fellow climbers attempted to resuscitate him, but their efforts were in vain, it added.
The man — who was born in 1942, according to the emergency services — was part of a group of tourists attempting to mount the volcano, which is still active, having most recently erupted in 2001.
The group had failed to register their itinerary with the emergency services before their climb, the agency said, advising other travelers to do so before attempting to ascend the volcano.
Kamchatka is home to some 300 volcanoes — 29 of which are still active — and is described as one of the most outstanding volcanic regions in the world by UNESCO. The organization has designated six areas in the region as world heritage sites.
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