Kamchatka, Russia's Far East — Four killer whales were rescued from stranding in an estuary in Kamchatka, as confirmed by Sergei Lebedev, the regional Minister for Emergency Situations, on Wednesday. This successful operation involved local volunteers, state inspectors, and rescue workers who intervened after the whales were caught in a low tide.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the whales had been stuck for hours near Ustyevo village in the Sobolevsky District. "The whales are now swimming freely. A boat is escorting them out. Good luck to them, and I hope they find their way to open waters. It looks like this story will have a happy ending ... We won't know for sure until morning if they've made it to the estuary, but I trust their natural instincts," Lebedev stated. The estuary's muddy conditions had previously made it difficult for rescue equipment to reach the whales, complicating the efforts.

Andrei Vorovsky, the district head, reported that all four whales were alive and had been continuously doused with water by the team on site, awaiting the high tide that eventually facilitated their return to deeper waters. Lebedev expressed his gratitude towards everyone who took part in the rescue, noting that the boat would continue to escort the whales as long as they remained in sight, ensuring their safe transition back to their natural habitat.