One climber dead, another injured in Argentina

LONDON

One climber has died and another has been seriously injured in Argentina on Wednesday, according to authorities.

The mountaineers were climbing up the Lanin Volcano located on the southern border between Argentina and Chile, according to Argentina's National Fire Management Service (SNMF).

Local news media TN reported that the dead climber was a 35-year-old man. A rescue helicopter was sent to the scene of the incident at an altitude of more than 3,100 meters.

The municipality of Lanin National Park, in Neuquen province, said that the accident occurred on the Chilean side of the volcano as the group fell roughly 300 meters, reported TN.

The nationality of the deceased has not been revealed but according to local radio station, Radio Bio Bio, there were two Chilean citizens and two Argentines who were taking part in the ascent.

TN said that the deceased suffered head trauma but was still alive until entering into cardiac arrest and dying around 9.30 am local time.

Salvador Vellido, the mayor of the Lanin National Park, told TN that the accident occurred on the northwestern side of the volcano and that the authorities experienced difficulties removing the body of the deceased, due to the difficult terrain.

Authorities requested people to stay away from the surrounding area of Lake Tromen at the foot of the volcano during the rescue operation.

The Lanin Volcano forms part of the National Park which shares the same name and borders Chile.

It is located some 60 kilometers from Junin de los Andes, along the route that leads to the pass known as Tromen or Mamuil Malal.