KATHMANDU, May 21: Two foreign climbers attempting to scale Mount Everest have died on the world's highest peak, a Nepal mountaineering official said Monday.
Members of their expedition teams reported a Japanese climber died Monday and a Macedonian died on Sunday, said Liaison Officer of Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Gyanendra Shrestha told Republica Online from Mt Everest Base Camp.
The Japanese climber was identified as 35-year-old Nobukazu Kuriki and the Macedonian was 63-year-old Gjeorgi Petkov.
Five climbers die, three missing on Everest this season
Kuriki was a known mountaineer who climbed many mountains and made several attempts on Everest. He was not successful in climbing Everest and lost most of his fingers due to frostbite during an attempt in 2012.
According to Shrestha, it was Kuriki’s eighth attempt at climbing the mountain. He was found dead while sleeping in a tent at camp 2, which is at 24,278 feet.
“Sherpas found his body inside the tent,” officials said.
Some 340 foreign climbers and their Sherpa guides are attempting to scale Everest this month and many succeeded in the past week during good weather.