Seven Chinese tourists in Russia were killed on Friday, local time, after a vehicle carrying them plunged into the waters of Lake Baikal when the ice cracked, with the Chinese Consulate General in Irkutsk issuing an urgent safety reminder again for Chinese travelers visiting the popular spot in Siberia.

According to the consulate, the incident occurred on February 20 when a UAZ tourist vehicle with 8 Chinese tourists on board sank into the lake due to ice fracture. One tourist was rescued and managed to get ashore, while the other seven unfortunately drowned. The consulate activated an emergency response mechanism immediately upon learning of the incident, urgently contacting Russian authorities to request full efforts in rescue, salvage and investigation into the cause of the accident. It also coordinated local consular assistance volunteers to rush to the scene and dispatched consular officials to the accident site to assist with follow-up formalities.

Russian media reported more details of the tragedy. Igor Kobzev, governor of Irkutsk Oblast, confirmed that the identities of the victims have been verified, including a Chinese family of four, which includes a 14-year-old child born in 2013, according to a report by Russia's Izvestia newspaper. Rescuers from the Olkhonsky district of Irkutsk Oblast found the seven victims' bodies, and the UAZ vehicle they were traveling in fell to the bottom of Lake Baikal under the ice.

The Investigative Committee of Irkutsk Oblast of the Russian Federation stated that the only surviving tourist, who escaped from the sinking vehicle under the ice, is currently receiving treatment. Investigators plan to speak to him as soon as possible to clarify the details of the accident.

A key factor behind the tragic accident has been identified: the tourists did not book their trip through a formal travel agency but directly arranged it with local residents, RIA Novosti reported. Preliminary data showed that the route taken was not coordinated with any travel agency or rescue service. Officially-opened ice routes are regularly inspected for ice thickness and marked with special signs, but the ice at the section where the accident occurred had not reached the strength required for vehicle travel. Witnesses added that the driver attempted to accelerate through the ice crack instead of stopping or detouring, which directly led to the vehicle plunging into the icy water, and the vehicle sank to the bottom in just two to three minutes.

The accident came amid abnormal climate conditions around Lake Baikal, with rising temperatures causing numerous ice cracks and making the ice surface extremely complicated. Notably, this is the second ice-related accident involving Chinese tourists near Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal, in a month.

On January 28, another vehicle carrying Chinese tourists overturned on an unopened ice road, resulting in casualties among Chinese citizens. Olkhon Island, the largest island in Lake Baikal, is a popular destination for Chinese tourists to view "blue ice" since Russia implemented visa-free group tourism for China, with its north line being a hot route with dozens of vehicles passing through daily.

Prior to this tragic incident, safety alerts had already been issued. Due to a series of incidents since the start of winter, including casualties caused by overturned tourist vehicles on ice, and tourists getting lost while skiing, the Chinese Embassy in Russia issued a safety reminder to Chinese tourists visiting Russia on February 5. Recently, nearly 50 Chinese tourists were stranded in a remote area in Murmansk, a popular Arctic tourist spot in Russia, due to a rare snowstorm, and their travel plans were disrupted. They were rescued with the joint assistance of the Chinese Consulate General in St. Petersburg and Russian authorities.

In the wake of the latest tragedy, the Chinese Embassy in Russia and the Chinese Consulate General in Irkutsk have once again emphasized the importance of travel safety for Chinese tourists in Russia. They urged Chinese tourists to attach great importance to safety during their trips, choose formal travel agencies and qualified operating vehicles, and strictly abide by relevant Russian management regulations. Tourists are advised to avoid any illegal operations or adventurous behaviors and travel in extremely bad weather, further enhance their vigilance, strengthen precautions and respond scientifically to ensure the safety and smoothness of ice and snow-related tourism activities.

The consulate also reminded that the official ice roads of Lake Baikal have not yet opened, and driving vehicles on the ice is prohibited. Tourists should choose safer air-cushion boats for ice transportation, instead of taking chances to ride in vehicles across the ice. Even after the official opening of ice roads, tourists must book transportation services through formal channels, confirm that the carrier vehicles and drivers have legal passenger transport qualifications and have purchased insurance, and refrain from choosing unqualified "black cars" for the sake of cheapness or convenience.

In case of danger or unexpected emergencies, tourists are advised to call the local police for help as soon as possible and contact the Chinese embassies and consulates in Russia for assistance.