German mountaineer falls to death in Tibet
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-05-13 14:52
A German mountaineer fell to his death while descending Mount Cho Oyu in
Tibet on Tuesday, a sourcewith the China Tibet Mountaineering Association said
Friday.
The man stumbled at an altitude of 7,800 meters and slid about 70 meters
before hitting his head on a rock. He then fell into an ice chasm, said Zhang
Mingxing, secretary-general of the association.
The association had notified the German embassy in Beijing of the accident,
Zhang said. However, local police and embassy officials were not available
Friday evening to identify the man's name.
He was with a seven-member German climbing team that is still on the
mountain, Zhang said. His colleagues could not be contacted for comment.
Mount Cho Oyu, which rises to 8,201 meters, is located near Mount Qomolangma
(Mount Everest) at the center of the Himalayas.
Several hundred mountaineers in more than 30 expeditions from 10 countries
are presently climbing in Tibet, said Zhang.
The association had warned of severe weather and asked them to strengthen
safety precautions, he added.
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