ISLAMABAD (AFP) — At least seven climbers have died in northern Pakistan after scaling the 8,611-metre K2 peak in the Himalayas, an expedition official said Sunday.
"According to latest updates I can confirm seven casualties," Adventure Foundation Pakistan vice president Mohammad Akram told AFP. "There are reports of nine casualties, but I cannot confirm it yet."
A big piece of ice fell on the climbers while they were descending from K2's Summit on Friday at the "Bottleneck" portion of the mountain from where they had to pass via ropes, Akram said.
Another tour operator said the falling ice killed five members of a Korean expedition.
"Three Koreans and two Nepalis have died at Bottleneck," Ghulam Muhammad, owner of Blue Sky Trekking and Travel, told AFP. "The liaison officer at base confirmed the casualties."
Akram earlier said that five members of international Dutch expedition NoritK2 had gone missing.
He said that NoritK2 leader Wilco van Rooijen had returned after being helped by a fellow climber.
Nazir Sabir, a leading Pakistani mountaineer and expedition operator, told private Geo television that Rooijen was injured and had reached the camp.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
