Five Russian climbers die on Nepal’s Dhaulagiri mountain

Five members of a Russian expedition who went missing while attempting to climb Mount Dhaulagiri have been found dead, according to Russia’s embassy in Nepal, as reported by CNN on Tuesday.

Initial investigations indicated that the group of Russian climbers died after falling down a slope, the embassy stated. Officials mentioned they were in communication with other members of the expedition and were evaluating the feasibility of recovering the bodies from the mountain for identification and repatriation.

Dhaulagiri, which means “White Mountain” in Sanskrit, is the world’s seventh-highest peak, standing at 8,167 meters (26,795 feet) above sea level, located in the Himalayas of central Nepal. Known for its steep sides and extreme cold, it was first successfully summited in 1960 by a Swiss-Austrian expedition.

The fatality rate for Dhaulagiri is slightly over 16%, making it one of the most perilous mountains to climb. As of spring 2022, records indicate that 647 climbers have reached the summit of Dhaulagiri I.

The Russian Mountaineering Federation informed CNN that the expedition was organized by a private organization. The experienced climbers set off in early September, employing a traditional ascent method called “siege” climbing, which involved splitting into smaller teams to take turns advancing and establishing temporary camps.

Contact was lost with five members of the group after they set out for the summit on October 6. A sixth climber intended to join them but withdrew due to health issues.

The federation expressed condolences to the victims' families and friends in a statement to CNN. The Ambassador of Nepal to Russia also asked to extend his sincere sympathies.

A federation spokesperson noted that the climbers were attempting the ascent during the “off-season,” when the climbing season typically ends, and acknowledged that the weather conditions were challenging at that time.

Russian state news agency RIA Novosti shared a photo attributed to the Leningrad Region Mountaineering Federation, reportedly showing the location where the bodies were found. Taken from a helicopter, the image allegedly depicts a backpack and bodies on a rocky ledge on the glacier.

A representative from the organization indicated that the climbers were likely tied together with a safety rope when they fell down the slope.

CNN has reached out to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for further comments.