Seven people were killed after a tourist minibus crashed through the ice on a frozen lake in Russia.

The tour bus carrying eight Chinese tourists plunged into the freezing water in Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake, in Siberia.

Video footage shows the moments after the crash as the lone survivor attempts to climb out of the submerged vehicle. 

A group of tourists watched in horror but could not help the stricken passengers.

People were heard shouting ‘faster, hurry up’ and ‘get out’ as they tried to help the victims.

One man was seen running towards the minibus with a rope in an attempt to stage a rescue. 

A 12-year-old girl was among the victims who died in the crash, alongside both her parents. 

Three women aged 28 died in the crash alongside two others aged 31, and 40.

Tourists watched on in horror as a tourist minibus crashed through frozen ice and began to sink, killing seven

Divers retrieved bodies from the wreckage from the wreckage around 60 feet underneath the ice

Footage also showed divers retrieving bodies from depths of around 60 feet.

Lake Baikal is a UNESCO World Heritage site located close to the border with Mongolia.

It is a popular destination for Chinese tourists to skate, hike and ski on the giant frozen lake during the winter

It is the world’s largest freshwater lake and contains around 20 per cent of the world’s unfrozen freshwater.

The enormous lake reaches depths of more than 5,000 feet and is around a quarter of the size of England.

The driver of the UAZ Bukhanka minibus Nikolay Dorzheev, 44, has been accused of using an ‘ice road’ on the lake’s surface that was closed, and ignoring warnings of acute danger due to ice cracks.

Investigators have spoken to the sole survivor of the tragedy, as well as a Chinese tourist and the widow of the driver. 

Lake Baikal is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular destination for Chinese tourists during the winter

Divers went beneath the frozen lake to try and find bodies of those who died in the crash

The couple ran tours that explored pagan culture in the region.

The minibus was not officially registered, according to reports. 

Officials said tourists were ‘dicing with death’ by driving on the ice.

While the thickness can reach four feet, cracks and warmer undercurrents can make the ice roads hazardous, even in the harsh Siberian winter when air temperatures can reach -18C.