Body of Japanese climber found in northern Pakistan

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Pakistani official on Saturday said that rescuers found the body of a Japanese climber who was missing at Spantik Peak in Shigar Valley in northern Pakistan.

"Body of one of the (two) missing Japanese climbers has been found today (Saturday), while operation is continuing to locate the second climber," Shigar deputy commissioner Walullah Falahi told Anadolu by phone.

Karrar Haidri, secretary Alpine Club of Pakistan, also confirmed the development and said high-altitude porters have successfully retrieved the body of one of the two missing Japanese climbers on Spantik Peak, also known as Golden Peak.

"The body has been moved to a safer location, but the search for the second climber continues. The identity of the deceased climber has not yet been confirmed. Authorities are coordinating with the Japanese Embassy and the tour company, with decisions pending on whether to repatriate the body or bury it in Pakistan," Haidri said.

He added that army helicopters have been assisting in the rescue efforts since Thursday.

Ryuseki Hiraoka and Atsushi Taguchi had gone missing on Tuesday while climbing in Alpine style without porters between the Shigar and Nagar districts in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

In August last year, a Japanese climber was killed and another injured during an expedition in the region.

Formerly known as the Northern Area and once part of the erstwhile Pakistan-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan is home to five peaks of over 8,000m (26,246 ft), including the K2, the world's second-highest mountain peak.

Several mountaineers have lost their lives in recent years while attempting to ascend the treacherous mountains.

Pakistan's iconic climber Muhammad Ali Sadpara, Iceland's John Snorri, and Chile’s Juan Pablo Mohr were killed while attempting to summit 8,611 meters (28,251 feet) K2 in July 2021.