Three S. Korean climbers missing on Annapurna

KATHMANDU, Oct 20: Three South Korean climbers, including renowned mountaineer Park Young-Seok, have been missing along the slopes of Mt Annapurna since Tuesday, the Mountaineering Division said.



“The three went out of contact Tuesday while climbing from Camp I to Camp II,” said Dipendra Poudel, an official at the Division. [break]



Ne-Ko Treks that organized the Annapurna South Face Expedition 2011 said along with Park, 48, Kang Ki-Seok, 33, and Dong Min Shin, 37, are missing on the mountain.



Ang Dorje Sherpa, managing director of the trekking agency, said the three had last contacted the base camp Tuesday afternoon to inform that they were climbing down from 6,300 meters as weather had worsened and further ascent was fraught with danger.



“A helicopter sent to rescue them Thursday morning returned without being able to spot them,” Sherpa said.



“But the copter dropped four trained rescuers who will assist other Sherpas and a Korean team member present at the base camp in the search operation,” he added.



The missing Koreans were trying to scale the 8,091-meter mountain from its south face that is considered extremely dangerous.



The expedition´s team leader Park has climbed all the 14 tallest mountains in the world.

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