Japanese mountaineer dies and another is injured while climbing mountain in northern Pakistan
A mountaineering official and a climber say a Japanese climber has died and a fellow mountaineer was injured when an apparent rock fragment hit them while trying to scale one of the highest peaks in northern Pakistan
Japanese mountaineer dies and another is injured while climbing mountain in northern Pakistan
Show all 6Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Japanese climber died and a fellow mountaineer was injured when an apparent rock fragment hit them while trying to scale one of the highest peaks in northern Pakistan, a mountaineering official and the injured climber said Tuesday.
The two mountaineers from Japan were taking part in a climbing expedition organized by a local tour operator, said Karrar Haidri, secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan.
He said the purpose of the expedition was to summit a never-before scaled peak in the Andaq Valley in the country’s north. Haidri said that while ascending the mountain Friday, Shinji Tamura slipped and fell at an altitude of 5,380 meters (17,650 feet).
Haidri told The Associated Press that the man's colleague, Semba Takayasu, was injured when he was hit by something, presumably a piece of rock. However, he said Takayasu later safely managed to reach the base camp to seek help from local authorities.
Haidri said a search team was quickly sent to the area where the climber slipped, but rescuers failed to find Tamura until Monday when the operation was called off, declaring the death of the Japanese climber.
“We have been informed by local authorities that the Japanese fell from a great height into the rocks and there were piles of snow and apparently he was buried there. Some of his belongings were found but there is no trace of his body,” Haidri said. “There is no chance of survival in such incidents, and the injured Japanese Semba Takayasu had also seen him falling from a great height, and rescuers went to the area for the search.”
Local authorities in the region also confirmed the death of the Japanese climber.
According to Takayasu, Tamura was seriously injured when he slipped and fell after being hit by something, apparently a piece of rock, which seriously injured him. Takayasu said he was also injured but managed to reach the base camp, from where rescuers launched the operation.
He told an AP reporter the body of Tamura could not be found after days of searching.
Tamura said he was rescued from the base camp by a helicopter and later arrived at Skardu, the main town in northern Pakistan, which is known as the gateway to K2, the world’s second-highest mountain.
Every year, hundreds of local and foreign climbers visit northern Pakistan, where some of the world's tallest mountains are located.
Pakistani authorities said Saturday they were conducting an investigation into the death of a Pakistani porter near the peak of K2, the world’s most treacherous mountain.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.