Dramatic mountain climbing incidents occur on Everest and Makalu.
Tourists fork over hefty sums to conquer the mighty peaks of the Himalayas, disregarding their perilous natures as numerous climbers fail to return in one piece. Tragedy has once more struck as there's been another fatality and two people have disappeared.
A French alpinist lost his life on Mount Makalu, the fifth-tallest mountain on Earth. On Tuesday, the organizers of his expedition, Snowy Horizon Treks and Expedition, publicly confirmed his death at an altitude of 8,120 meters while making his way towards the summit.
60-year-old Johnny Saliba fell victim to altitude sickness during the ascent. Mountain guide Bodha Raj Bhandari shared that efforts were made to lower Saliba's altitude, but failed. The rest of the French team managed to return to base camp unscathed.
This marks the second fatality in the Himalayas since the beginning of the climbing season. In the previous week, a 53-year-old Nepalese guide perished in an accident on Makalu.
Situated to the east of Everest, Makalu is the fifth tallest mountain, measuring 8,485 meters in height. Nepal has issued 59 permits for climbs on Makalu this year. The cost for such a venture amounts to $1,800 (about €1,668) - significantly cheaper than scaling Everest, a feat that would set you back $11,000.
Search for two missing climbers on Mount Everest
Meanwhile, a search is underway on Everest for two missing Mongolian climbers. 53-year-old Usukhjargal Tsedendamba and 31-year-old Prevsuren Lkhagvajav reported in from Camp 4 on Sunday evening, stating they'd be attempting to reach the summit. Pemba Sherpa, from expedition organizer 8k Expeditions, shared that no communication has been received from the duo since their last update.
Tsedendamba and Lkhagvajav were trekking without a guide and left their radio in their tent. Four Nepalese guides have been sent out to locate the missing climbers. The Nepalese tourism authority mentioned spotting the duo on their way upwards on Monday morning, yet "no further contact" has been established.
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The search for the missing Mongolian climbers, Usukhjargal Tsedendamba and Prevsuren Lkhagvajav, has expanded to Mount Everest, following their last update from Camp 4 on Sunday evening. Their expedition organizers, 8k Expeditions, have reported no communication since then. Despite Nepalese guides spotting them on their ascent on Monday morning, no further contact has been established.
In light of these events, the international community expresses its concern for the safety of climbers in the Himalayas, particularly on Mount Everest and its neighboring peaks like Makalu, known for their challenging terrain and unpredictable weather conditions.
Source: www.ntv.de
