American and Nepalese climbers killed or missing after avalanches strike Tibetan peak

China named two American mountaineers and their Nepalese guides who are feared dead after an avalanche in Tibet on Saturday.

The local authorities confirmed that the American climber Anna Gutu and her Nepalese mountain guide Mingmar Sherpa had been killed on Shishapangma.

Two other climbers, Gina Marie Rzucidlo from the United States and Tenjen “Lama” Sherpa, were missing, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported.

Another Nepalese mountain guide, Karma Geljen Sherpa, was seriously injured, but state broadcaster CCTV said his condition was not life-threatening and he was being taken down the mountain by rescuers.

Nepalese media outlet The Himalayan Times also reported that two other sherpas had been injured after two avalanches hit the mountain at 7,600 metres and 8,000 metres (26,250ft) respectively.

On the roof of the world, a Chinese team tests extremes of environmental science

Quoting a mountaineering liaison officer, Xinhua reported that a total of 52 climbers from countries including Albania, Britain, Italy, Japan, Pakistan, Romania and the US had been trying to reach the summit when the avalanches struck.

All climbing activities have been suspended in view of the unstable snow conditions on the mountain.

The Himalayan Times said Ukrainian-born Gutu and Rzucidlo were vying to become the first American woman to scale all 14 mountains over 8,000 metres.

The Norwegian denied the claim which emerged after drone footage was posted online, writing on Instagram that her team had done “everything we could for him at the time”.

Shishapangma is the 14th highest mountain in the world, at over 8,027 metres above sea level.