MOSCOW, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Bodies of five climbers killed by an avalanche in the Russian North Caucasus republic of Kabardino-Balkaria have been found by rescuers on Saturday, local media reported.

    A group of nine novice mountaineers from Moscow and St. Petersburg was swept by a snow slide in the Khulamo-Bezengi canyon on Friday noon when they were climbing the 3,700-meter Gedantau peak.

    One climber was immediately killed, another four managed to find their way out and reported the incident, while the remaining four had been missing, said a local emergencies spokesman. By Saturday afternoon, all five bodies have been recovered, he said.

    "The fifth body was discovered at 2:05 p.m. Moscow time (1105 GMT)," he said.

    The search operation, with the involvement of over 70 rescuers and two helicopter crews, had therefore concluded, added the spokesman.