2 Japanese climbers go missing on K2

K2: Two Japanese climbers went missing on Saturday while attempting to summit K2, marking the fourth incident involving climbers on the mountain in less than two months.

According to officials, the Japanese climbers fell from an altitude of 7,500 metres while trying to reach the K2 peak. The mountain is known as the “killer mountain” due to its challenging conditions, standing at over 8,611 metres.

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K2 has seen a troubling pattern of accidents this season. Regional officer Waliullah Falahi confirmed the details of the incident.

In response to the distress call, the Pakistan army deployed two helicopters for a search and rescue mission. However, the helicopters were unable to retrieve the missing climbers because they could not detect any movement or signals from the men.

Falahi reported that the operation was hampered by the climbers’ lack of response. A ground search is scheduled to commence on Sunday to continue the effort to locate the missing Japanese.

Secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan Karrar Haidri expressed hope for a positive resolution. “We are hoping for a miracle, and miracles do happen after such incidents”, he stated.

The incident follows the recent death of Hiroshi Onishi earlier this month. Onishi was a 64-year-old Japanese climber who fell into a crevasse on Spantik Peak (Golden Peak).

Onishi’s death marks the third fatality involving Japanese climbers on Golden Peak in less than two months.

Read more: Mountaineers facing communication woes on K2 expedition

Every year, numerous climbers attempt to conquer the peaks of northern Pakistan, including K2 and Nanga Parbat. Despite the allure of these formidable mountains, the high-altitude challenges they present result in several deaths each climbing season.

The difficult terrain and extreme weather conditions make these climbs particularly hazardous.