Five Spanish Climbers Die in Avalanche
Five Spanish mountain climbers missing since Wednesday in the Mt. Everest region of the Himalayas were killed in an avalanche, a member of their team said.
The five climbers went missing on 23,494-foot Mt. Pumori, said a surviving member of the team, Irureta Benantxio. An aerial search found no trace of the climbers.
Benantxio, who went 1,968 feet above a base camp at 17,388 feet to search for the missing climbers, said he had seen a jacket and two bodies. He said he did not have the right boots to retrieve the bodies.
It was the first major avalanche to hit an expedition in Nepal this fall climbing season, which runs from September to November.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
