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| Eleven climbers feared dead on K2 | Eleven climbers feared dead on K2 |
| (2 days later) | |
| Eleven climbers have died in north Pakistan trying to scale the world's second-highest peak, K2, reports say. | Eleven climbers have died in north Pakistan trying to scale the world's second-highest peak, K2, reports say. |
| An eyewitness says 25 climbers reached the summit on Friday, but nine were stranded and froze to death after an avalanche swept away their fixed ropes. | An eyewitness says 25 climbers reached the summit on Friday, but nine were stranded and froze to death after an avalanche swept away their fixed ropes. |
| In the deadliest day in K2's history, another climber fell to his death and a porter died recovering a body. | In the deadliest day in K2's history, another climber fell to his death and a porter died recovering a body. |
| The avalanche happened when a chunk from an ice pillar snapped away on a feature called the Bottleneck. | The avalanche happened when a chunk from an ice pillar snapped away on a feature called the Bottleneck. |
| Swedish climber Fredrick Streng, who had decided not to attempt the summit, gave the BBC details of the events. | Swedish climber Fredrick Streng, who had decided not to attempt the summit, gave the BBC details of the events. |
| He said several expeditions, with a total of 25 climbers, had taken advantage of Friday's fine weather to reach the summit of K2. | He said several expeditions, with a total of 25 climbers, had taken advantage of Friday's fine weather to reach the summit of K2. |
| But he said they returned late, and were tired when the avalanche struck out the fixed lines. | But he said they returned late, and were tired when the avalanche struck out the fixed lines. |
| "There were still nine climbers above these ropes, which meant they had to spend the whole night out in the open," he said. | "There were still nine climbers above these ropes, which meant they had to spend the whole night out in the open," he said. |
| "The next morning they were still there, not moving. And people during the night had been hit by the avalanche. One had died, one had fallen at an earlier stage. | "The next morning they were still there, not moving. And people during the night had been hit by the avalanche. One had died, one had fallen at an earlier stage. |
| "At the end of Saturday, 11 people were confirmed dead." | "At the end of Saturday, 11 people were confirmed dead." |
| Only a few hundred people have climbed K2 and dozens have died in the attempt. | Only a few hundred people have climbed K2 and dozens have died in the attempt. |
| Many regard the mountain, at 8,611m (28,251ft), as the world's most difficult peak to climb. | Many regard the mountain, at 8,611m (28,251ft), as the world's most difficult peak to climb. |
| The Death Zone | The Death Zone |
| Expedition organisers only learned of the avalanche after a group of climbers arrived back at the mountain's base camp on Saturday evening. See route to climbing K2 | Expedition organisers only learned of the avalanche after a group of climbers arrived back at the mountain's base camp on Saturday evening. See route to climbing K2 |
| The mountaineers included Koreans, Pakistanis, Nepalis, a Dutchman and an Italian, reports say, but exact details remain unclear. | The mountaineers included Koreans, Pakistanis, Nepalis, a Dutchman and an Italian, reports say, but exact details remain unclear. |
| Several search parties have since been despatched to rescue the climbers who are still missing, organisers said. | Several search parties have since been despatched to rescue the climbers who are still missing, organisers said. |
| Mountaineer Chris Bonnington talks about the dangers of K2 | Mountaineer Chris Bonnington talks about the dangers of K2 |
| Climbers call the area the Death Zone as lack of oxygen at that altitude can cause bodies to degenerate. | Climbers call the area the Death Zone as lack of oxygen at that altitude can cause bodies to degenerate. |
| Reports from the mountain's base camp say that two separate parties of Serbian and Norwegian climbers have been able to make it back and that a Serbian and a Norwegian had died on the slopes. | Reports from the mountain's base camp say that two separate parties of Serbian and Norwegian climbers have been able to make it back and that a Serbian and a Norwegian had died on the slopes. |
| The Serbians say they buried their team member as it was impossible to bring his body back. The Norwegians say their companion was lost in the avalanche. | The Serbians say they buried their team member as it was impossible to bring his body back. The Norwegians say their companion was lost in the avalanche. |
| One of the climbers reported missing is Gerard McDonnell, 37, from County Limerick in Ireland, the first Irish person to reach the mountain's summit. | One of the climbers reported missing is Gerard McDonnell, 37, from County Limerick in Ireland, the first Irish person to reach the mountain's summit. |
| He was on the Norit K2 expedition. The Dutch leader of the expedition, and an Italian climber, were reported to be safe, but a French mountaineer was missing. | He was on the Norit K2 expedition. The Dutch leader of the expedition, and an Italian climber, were reported to be safe, but a French mountaineer was missing. |
| The fatality rate for those who reach the summit at 27% is about three times higher than that for Mount Everest. | The fatality rate for those who reach the summit at 27% is about three times higher than that for Mount Everest. |
| One of the worst single-day death tolls was on Everest on 11 May 1996, when eight people died in summit attempts. | One of the worst single-day death tolls was on Everest on 11 May 1996, when eight people died in summit attempts. |
| Six people fell to their deaths or disappeared during a storm on K2 on 13 August 1995. | Six people fell to their deaths or disappeared during a storm on K2 on 13 August 1995. |
| The summit of K2 was first reached by two Italians, Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni, on 31 July 1954. | The summit of K2 was first reached by two Italians, Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni, on 31 July 1954. |
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