KATHMANDU, Nepal: Rescuers have located the body of one of the two missing Mongolian climbers on Mount Everest, marking the first confirmed fatality of this mountaineering season on the world’s highest peak.
Usukhjargal Tsedendamba, 53, and Purevsuren Lkhagvajav, 31, were last heard from on Sunday evening at Camp 4, just below the summit.
Tsedendamba’s body was discovered on Friday morning at an altitude of around 8,600 meters (28,215 feet) after several days of search efforts hindered by poor weather conditions.
Lakpa Sherpa of 8k Expeditions, the organization handling the climbers’ permits, indicated that Tsedendamba appeared to be returning from the summit. The search continues for Lkhagvajav. The climbers were ascending without guides, and their walkie-talkie was found in their tent.
Nepal’s tourism department noted that another team had seen the pair heading towards the summit on Monday morning. This year, Nepal has issued over 900 permits for climbing, including 419 for Everest, generating more than $5 million in royalties. Around 80 climbers have already reached Everest’s summit this season.
The climbing season has also seen fatalities on other peaks. Two climbers died on Makalu, the world’s fifth-highest peak. French climber Johnny Saliba, 60, died at an altitude of 8,120 meters (26,640 feet) during his summit attempt, and a 53-year-old Nepali guide died last week while descending from the same peak.
