Everest 2006: Three more Dead on Everest

©EverestNews.com

21 April 2006

Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation

Mountaineering Section

Brikutimandap

Kathmandu

          At some time close to  7 AM on Friday, April 21, 2006,  a major collapse occurred in the upper Khumbu Icefall on Mount Everest.  Three Sherpa climbers were lost amid  substantial ice debris.  An extensive search was conducted in the hours following the accident.  At approximately 9:30 AM the search was ended and the conclusion reached that no hope of recovery existed.  Ang Phinjo Sherpa, aged 50, of Khunjung VDC ward # 9 Phortse,  Solu Khumbu Nepal, Lhakkpa Tseri Sherpa of Mende, Dawa Temba Sherpa of Thamo are presumed dead.

          April 21 was the first day of clear and calm weather following a three day storm.  The icefall route had been re-established on April 20 as the storm ended and was considered to be in good condition.  Consequently, many teams were moving upward through the Khumbu at the time of the collapse.  Approximately ten Sherpas, carrying loads for several different expeditions, were working closely together in line at about 5630 meters in a corridor bordered by a large icewall.  Eyewitnesses reported that one of two large ice towers above the area spontaneously collapsed.  This caused the collapse of the second serac, or ice tower.  The debris from both of these features then caused the icewall directly above the Sherpas to partially collapse.  The debris struck and/or covered the last six Sherpas in the line, with three of those being completely buried.  Within a short time, there were dozens of experienced climbers from many different teams at the scene to search for those lost and to assist the injured.  All concurred that recovery of the dead would not be possible due to the volume and density of the ice debris. The three injured were assisted to base camp, where evaluation showed their injuries to be relatively minor. Of those lost,  Ang Phinjo was working for Great Escapes Trekking on an International Mountain Guides expedition (2006 IMG Everest Expedition I led by Justin Reese Merle).

Lhakpa Tseri and Dawa Temba were employed by Asian Trekking on an Expedition led by Douglas Tumminello & Apa Sherpa (Team No Limit).

Tara Prasad Bhusal

LO for Swiss (Kari Kobler) team

Justin Reese Merle

Expedition Leader

2006 IMG Everest Expedition (I)

Douglas Tumminello

Leader

Team No Limit

Ang Passang Sherpa

Sirdar

2006 IMG Everest Expedition (I)

Apa Sherpa

Sirdar

Team No Limit

This brings the total number of dead to 4 so far on Everest in 2006 which includes the Nepalese climber on the Russ Brice North side Everest expedition.

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