KATHMANDU, 18 May. (DPA/EP) –
The tourist authorities of Nepal have reported that two climbers have died this Thursday when they tried to ascend Mount Everest, the highest peak on the planet with more than 8,800 meters and located in the Himalayas.
According to the Nepal Department of Tourism, a Chinese climber has died on the southern summit of Everest, while another Indian climber died in a hospital in Lukla earlier in the day.
“The body of the Indian climber has already been transferred to Kathmandu, while we have not yet received more details about the deceased Chinese climber,” Bigyan Koirala, an official from the aforementioned Department of Tourism, confirmed to DPA.
With these latest two fatalities, the death toll this season now rises to eight, according to Nepali officials. Sources at Everest Base Camp have stated that cases of frostbite and altitude sickness have increased this season.
“I have never seen such a high number of rescues in a single season. Only on Thursday there were a minimum of 25 helicopter rescues from Camp II to Base Camp,” an anonymous source told DPA.
