An avalanche at Tibet's Mount Shishapangma on October 7th took the lives of American mountaineer Anna Gutu and Nepalese guide Mingmar Sherpa. Auburn native Gina Marie Rzucidlo and Nepalese guide Tenjen Sherpa remain missing, according to CBS News.
The avalanches occurred on Saturday, October 7th at an altitude of 25,000 to 26,000 feet on Shishapangma, the 14th highest mountain in the world, as per Telegram&Gazette. The mountain's environment proved fatal for the climbers.
As reported by Xinhua News Agency, 52 climbers from several countries including the U.S., Britain, Japan, and Italy, were trying to summit the mountain during the avalanche. Mountaineering activities on Shishapangma have been suspended due to current snow conditions, details Boston25 News.
Even though October is a favorable time to trek the Himalayas, the impact of climate change on the region's weather patterns and glacial melting has increased the risk of avalanches, affecting both climbers and the local communities.
For the missing climbers, Gina Rzucidlo and Tenjen Sherpa, rescue efforts continue in an attempt to locate them.
