3 climbers died, 2 missing after returning from Everest

DHAKA: A Nepalese mountaineering official says three climbers returning from the summit of Mount Everest have died and two more are missing.

Mountaineering Department official Gyanendra Shrestha said Monday that a German, a Nepal-born Canadian and a Korean died Saturday while descending from the 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) summit.

Shrestha said the weather was favourable on Friday and Saturday morning but a wind storm swept the mountain later on Saturday.

Shrestha, stationed at the base camp of Everest, said he was waiting for details.

German climber 61-year-old doctor Eberhard Schaaf was believed to have suffered high altitude cerebral asthma.

The Nepalese-Canadian climber was Shriya Shah, while the Korean mountaineer’s name was yet to be confirmed.

BDST: 1432 HRS, MAY 21, 2012

Edited by Robab Rosan, Cultural Affairs Editor