5 Rescued, 4 Killed After Avalanche On Huascaran In Peruvian Andes (UPDATED)

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Nine Mountain Climbers Caught In Avalanche On Huascaran In the Andes of Peru | 5 Rescued Alive, 4 Missing And Presumed Dead

Huascaran, Peru – On Tuesday, July 20, 2016 a group of nine mountain climbers were caught in an avalanche on Huascaran in the Cordillera Blanca in the Andes of Peru. Notimerica.com reports that the group consisted of 2 Spaniards, 3 Mexicans and 4 Peruvians. Five of the climbers were rescued alive and four are currently missing and presumed dead.

By Suizaperuana (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
By Suizaperuana (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Rescuers include the National High Mountain Police of Peru with support from the Association of Peruvian Mountain Guides (MPGA). They responded to the scene of the avalanche incident at 5800 meters within 3 hours. They managed to rescue and evacuate five climbers. Four other climbers are still missing and likely dead, but rescue efforts are still taking place.

The five climbers rescued alive included 2 Spaniards (Xavier Gualarte Peiro and Marc Veza Rodiño), 2 Peruvian (Cochachin Santiago Marino Albino and Caldúa Milla), and 1 Mexican (Ruben Jaen Cataño). They suffered minor injuries. The Mexican, Ruben Jaen, had decided not to climb and stayed at the shelter due to illness.

The missing climbers include Mexicans José Miguel Mendoza Paulin, 44, and Carlos Guido Belkosky Rascon, 45. These two were accompanied by Peruvian mountain guide Julio Suarez Rey and aspiring guide Gilberto Loli who are also missing (ElComercio.pe). The President of the Asociación de Guías de Montaña de Perú, Rafael Figueroa Chavez, reports that the incident has been reported to all embassies.

The avalanche occurred at 5800 meters while the climbers ascended toward a col that separates the two summits in an area referred to as La Canaleta or La Garganta. It was triggered when a large block of ice fell off of the mountain. Rescuers note that the avalanche swept the climbers into a crevasse about 50 meters deep. Those rescuers will attempt to enter the crack to find the missing climbers.

Huascaran is the 4th highest peak in the Andes and the tallest peak in Peru at 6768 meters. AltaMontanha.com reports that this is the first fatal accident of the high mountain season in the Cordillera Blanca.

 

UPDATE: The bodies of Carlos Guido Belkotosky Rascon, 45, and Peruvian mountain guideConstantino Suarez July Rey were found in a crevasse filled with snow. The other two are still missing. (PeruThisWeek.com)

We will do our best to update this post as more information becomes available.

Read more about the avalanche on Huascaran in the Andes of Peru from these sources:

Two other avalanche incidents this week include: