American mountaineer Anna Goto and Nepalese guide Mingmar Sherpa were confirmed dead on Sunday after avalanches hit Tibet’s mountain slopes, while two others remained missing, according to tourism companies and Chinese media reports.
Mount Shishabangma is one of the highest mountains in the world, standing 26,335 feet above sea level and located entirely within Chinese territory.
The accident occurred on Saturday afternoon “at an altitude of between 7,600 and 8,000 metres,” the Xinhua News Agency, citing the Tibet Sports Bureau, which confirmed the toll, said.
Anna Goto, an American mountaineer, was killed, Mingma David Sherpa of Elite Exped, which was running the expedition, told AFP.
“We have received reports that Anna and her guide were caught in the avalanche yesterday, and their bodies have been recovered,” he said.
“There are other climbers also missing and rescue efforts are underway,” he said.
He added that these efforts were complicated by the fact that “helicopters cannot be used” on the mountain due to Chinese restrictions.
Tashi Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks identified the missing people as American climber Jenna Marie Rzeszydlo and her guide Tenjin “Llama” Sherpa.
He added: “Two avalanches hit the mountain yesterday, affecting many climbers. Some of them were injured and two were missing, the American climber (Gina Marie Rzosidlo) and our guide Tenjin.”
“Search efforts are ongoing.”
The state-owned Xinhua News Agency reported that the avalanches also seriously injured Nepalese mountain guide Karma Gelgen Sherpa, and rescuers took him down the mountain and he is currently in stable condition.
Xinhua said that 52 climbers from different countries, including the United States, Britain, Japan and Italy, were trying to climb the mountain peak when the avalanches struck.
Xinhua said that all mountaineering activities on Mount Shishabangma have been suspended.
Tenjen became the toast of the mountaineering community this year after setting the record for the fastest summit of all 14 of the world’s 26,000-foot mountains alongside Norway’s peak. Christine Harella.
The duo completed the feat in 92 days when they reached the K2 summit in Pakistan in July.
likeA statement was posted on Harila’s Instagram She said she was heading to Nepal “to help in any way I can.”
She added: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Lama and his family.”
The two women were competing in Shishapangma to become the first American woman to climb all 14 peaks, according to the Nepalese newspaper, The Himalayan Times.
Goto has been chronicling her mountaineering exploits Instagram. Last month, I wrote That she reached the top of Dhaulagiri and also posted it Dramatic video Arriving at the top of Manaslu.
in June post on InstagramGoto wrote that she had climbed Mount Kanchenjunga
“I’m one step closer to my big dream,” she wrote alongside a photo of herself atop the summit.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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