Mongolian climber found dead on Mount Everest, rescue operations underway for another

Rescuers recovered the body of aMongolian climber on Friday (May 17) from Mount Everest, with rescue operations underway for his countryman who also went missing since the weekend, expedition organizerssaid. It marked the first confirmed fatality on the world’s highest peak this mountaineering season.

Usukhjargal Tsedendamba, 53, and Purevsuren Lkhagvajav, 31, set off last weekend from their final camp at 8,000 metres (26,300 ft) to head for the summit of Everest in Nepal. They were attempting the summit approach from the South Col.

Tsedendamba's body was found below the South Summit at an altitude of about 8,600 metres (28,215 feet) on Friday morning.

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"It seems he was returning from the summit. Search is continuing for the other climber," said Lakpa Sherpa of 8k Expedition Company, which organised the duo's climbing permits.

Sherpa said the two men were climbing without guides and that their walkie-talkie had been found in their tent.

Bad weather with high winds played spoilsport during search operations for the missing climbers below the summit. The location is famously known as the death zone because of dangerously low oxygen levels.

The Mongolian duo was last in contact Sunday evening from Camp 4, situated less than a kilometre (3,300 feet) below the summit.

Nepal's tourism department said in a statement on Tuesday that another team had spotted the pair "heading towards Everest's summit" on Monday morning.

Hundreds of climbers have flocked to Nepal, home to eight of the world's 14 highest peaks, for summits in the spring climbing season when temperatures are warmer and winds are typically calm.

Mount Everest is the world’s tallest summit at 8,849 metres (29,032 ft) and officials say more than 6,500 people have reached its peak.

However, about 335 people have also died in its deadly terrain, hiking officials said.

Two climbers have died on Makalu, the world's fifth-highest peak, this year.

French climber Johnny Saliba, 60, died at an altitude of 8,120 metres (26,640 feet) during his summit push on Sunday.

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A 53-year-old Nepali guide died on the same peak last week while descending from the summit.

Nepal has issued more than 900 permits for its mountains this year, including 419 for Everest, earning more than $5 million in royalties.

Mountain climbing is a key source of revenue and employment in Nepal.

(With inputs from agencies)