Pakistani authorities say two Japanese climbers have gone missing while attempting to summit K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, marking the fourth such incident in less than two months.
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Two Japanese climbers have gone missing while attempting to summit K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, in northern Pakistan, authorities said Saturday, the fourth such incident in less than two months.
The latest incident occurred when the pair fell from a height of 7,500 meters (24,605 feet) while attempting to summit the 8,611-meter (28,250-foot) K2, also known as “Murder Mountain,” regional official Waliullah Farahi told The Associated Press by phone.
Farahi said two Pakistani helicopters immediately launched a search and rescue operation but were unable to rescue the Japanese because they were inactive.
He added that a ground search for the Japanese national would begin on Sunday.
Kallar Haidri, secretary general of the Pakistan Mountaineering Club, was aware of the incident in which the two Japanese went missing on K2 and said, “We are hoping for a miracle. And miracles do happen after incidents like this.”
Earlier this month, rescuers found the body of Hiroshi Onishi, 64, who had fallen into a crevasse on the 7,027-metre (23,054-foot) Spantik Peak, also known as Golden Peak. Onishi is the third Japanese person to die on Golden Peak within two months.
Every year, hundreds of climbers attempt to summit the mountains of northern Pakistan, including K2 and Nanga Parbat, and several lose their lives each year.
