2 more Japanese climbers die in Pakistan, taking tally to 5 this year

nasiraijaz — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 11:16:12 +0000

Foreign climbers come to Pakistan to take on challenge of west face of K2, world’s second-tallest mountain

Aamir Latif Arain

Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

Two Japanese climbers who fell from K2, the world’s second-tallest mountain, have been officially declared dead, raising the number of the country’s mountaineers who died in Pakistan this year to five, a tour operator told Anadolu on Wednesday.

Kazuya Hiraide and Kenro Nakajima, who traveled to Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) region to take on the challenge of the west face of K2, using the alpine style approach, fell from a height of 7,500 meters (24,606 feet) off the 8,611-meter (28,251 ft) peak K2 on July 28.

“Their death certificates have been issued (by Pakistani authorities) to their families, who (family members) arrived in Pakistan a few days ago, and are leaving today (Wednesday),” said Naiknam Kareem, the head of Naiknam Tours that arranged the deceased climbers’ expedition.

The climbers’ bodies were spotted last week but could not be recovered due to “extremely” dangerous nature of the K2’s west face terrain, he added.

Waliullah Falahi, the deputy commissioner of Shigar district of G-B, which is home to K2, however, told Anadolu that a ground operation could not be launched due to the difficult terrain.

A Pakistan army helicopter could not land to pick the mountaineers because of high altitude, he added.

Hiraide, a renowned mountaineer, had won three Piolets d’Or awards, the most prestigious accolade in the field of alpinism.

G-B is home to five of 14 highest peaks in the world. It has seen several mountain accidents involving Japanese climbers in recent months.

Apart from the fresh casualties, three Japanese climbers have been killed while trying to scale the 7,027-meter Spantik Peak, also known as Golden Peak, in alpine style since June.

Alpine style, characterized by minimal use of fixed ropes and support, emphasizes speed and efficiency, and is known for its high level of difficulty and risk.

Read: 2 Japanese climbers fall from K2 in northern Pakistan

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Aamir Latif is a Karachi-based senior journalist. He represents Anadolu, a Turkish news agency

Courtesy: Anadolu Agency (Posted on 07.08.2024)

The post 2 more Japanese climbers die in Pakistan, taking tally to 5 this year first appeared on Sindh Courier.

2 Japanese climbers fall from K2 in northern Pakistan

nasiraijaz — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 13:36:32 +0000

Ground operation launched to rescue climbers; their current condition not known

Aamir Latif Arain

KARACHI, Sindh, Pakistan

Pakistani authorities have launched fresh efforts to rescue two Japanese climbers who fell from K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, on Saturday in northern Pakistan, a mountaineering official told Anadolu on Sunday.

It comes after a Pakistan army helicopter could not land to pick the mountaineers because of high altitude, said Karrar Haidri, secretary general of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, the country’s official mountaineering association.

Waliullah Falahi, the deputy commissioner of Shigar district of Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) region, which is home to K2, however, told Anadolu that no ground operation had been launched. He did not specify the reason for the delay.

Kazuya Hiraide and Kenro Nakajima who traveled to Pakistan to take on the challenge of the west face of K2, using the alpine style approach, fell from a height of 7,500 meters (24,606 feet) off the 8,611-meter (28,251 ft) peak K2, according to Haidri.

“Their condition is still not known. Therefore, we can’t predict anything about them at this stage,” he added.

The Japanese Embassy in Islamabad also said that the duo’s condition is “currently unknown.”

Hiraide, a renowned mountaineer, has won three Piolets d’Or awards, the most prestigious accolade in the field of alpinism.

G-B is home to five of 14 highest peaks in the world. It has seen several mountain accidents involving Japanese climbers in recent months.

Three Japanese climbers have been killed while trying to scale and descending the 7,027-meter Spantik Peak, also known as Golden Peak, in alpine style since June.

Alpine style, characterized by minimal use of fixed ropes and support, emphasizes speed and efficiency, and is known for its high level of difficulty and risk.

Read: Another Japanese mountaineer killed in northern Pakistan

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