11 climbers die after avalanche on K2

Islamabad, Aug 5: An avalanche which struck on Friday, Aug 1 night on K2 claimed 11 climbers lives. The 11 climbers died when an ice wall collapsed during the climb and the others succumbed to food and air shortage when scaling the world's second highest peak.

Two Dutch climbers were rescued by helicopter on Monday, Aug 4 while authorities continue to hope that they can make it to an Italian climber currently descending the mountain. A Pakistani army helicopter managed to rescue two climbers from the slopes of the mountain situated deep in the Karakoram Range.

The two Dutch mountaineers who were rescued are being treated in a hospital in Pakistan.

"At least 11 climbers have died. This is one of the worst incidents in the history of K2 climbing," Sultan Alam, a Pakistani mountaineering guide, told sources from the peak"s base camp located at an altitude of 5,200 metres. The exact number of climbers affected remains unclear but Alam said he was aware of 17 whose ropes were swept away, with 11 dead, two stuck on the mountain and three back at Base Camp.

OneIndia News