Body of 2nd Mongolian climber found on Mt. Everest

ANKARA

The body of a second Mongolian climber, who went missing on Mt. Everest, has been found, local media reported on Sunday, confirming the second death on the world’s highest peak in five days.

Purevsuren Lkhagvajav, 31, was found dead at 8,300 meters (27,231 feet) near the “balcony” of Mt. Everest on Friday, Everest Chronicle, a mountaineering website, reported citing government officials.

“We have received reports that it was found 30 meters (98 feet) down the rope near the stone of the south summit,” said Director of 8K Expeditions Khimlal Gautam.

Lkhagvajav was in contact with his countryman Usukhjargal Tsedendamba, 53, till last Sunday evening from Camp 4, which is situated less than a kilometer below the summit.

Tsedendamba’s body was also found on Friday at an altitude of 8,600 meters (28,215 feet) after days of search and rescue operations that had been hampered by bad weather.

“We are trying to bring the bodies down,” Gautam said.

Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 10 highest peaks, and mountain climbing is a major tourism activity and a source of income as well as employment for the tiny Himalayan nation.

Earlier this year, two climbers died on nearby Makalu, the world’s fifth-highest peak.