5 Korean climbers, 4 Nepalese guides missing in Nepal mountain
Mount Gurja Himal in Nepal
By Park Si-soo
Five South Korean mountain climbers and four Nepalese guides have gone missing on Mount Gurja Himal after a strong storm swept through their base camp,
reported on Saturday citing Nepalese police. Among them are professional climber
and an unidentified movie director, according to the Korean Alpine Federation (KAF).
AFP reported, citing police spokesman Sailesh Thapa, eight people including a South Korean expedition team had been killed in western Nepal due to a snowstorm and a ninth climber is missing.
The storm reportedly destroyed their camp Friday night and rescue helicopters sent early Saturday were unable to land due to bad weather conditions on the 7,193-meter mountain. It was unlikely the weather would clear on Saturday and the base camp is at least a one-day trek from the nearest village.
No information was available immediately to know if they are alive. Some KAF officials cautiously said chances of their survival are low. The federation will soon dispatch a fact-finding team to the mountain.
A team of Nepalese police officers are heading toward the base camp on foot but they would only be able reach the site on Sunday at the earliest, according to AP.