Two Japanese climbers missing in Nepal Himalaya since Oct 15 as search continues
In short
Two Japanese men climbing in the Nepal Himalaya have been out of contact since 15 October, and local authorities are searching for them. A local official told Jiji Press they are aged 40 and 25 and were on Gangapurna (7,455 m) or a lower neighbouring peak, and that the search has so far found no information.
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Two Japanese climbers have been missing in the Himalaya in Nepal since 15 October, and local authorities are searching for them. NHK reported that the two are men and that they were climbing in the central part of the Himalaya range when they could no longer be located. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Jiji Press, in a report carried by Nikkei, said the matter became known on 21 October through an interview with a local municipality official. The report places the mountain in the Annapurna range, in the 7,000-metre class. According to the official, the two men are aged 40 and 25. They were climbing Gangapurna (7,455 m) or a slightly lower neighbouring unclimbed peak. The official said: "We are searching with helicopters and drones, but there is still no information." [ 3 , 4 ]
Livedoor News and Yahoo! News Japan, citing local media, said the two were climbing Gangapurna, about 7,455 m high, in central Nepal, and have been out of contact since 15 October. The same reports said local authorities are carrying out a search and rescue operation using helicopters. They said the Japanese embassy in Nepal received word from local authorities on 20 October. [ 1 , 5 ]
The embassy has not disclosed the names of the two. Livedoor News and Yahoo! News Japan said it is in contact with their families in Japan and is gathering information with local authorities. An embassy official told Jiji Press the embassy is gathering information and, in contact with the families and others concerned, is providing as much support as possible. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The documents give no basis beyond the search itself. The Japanese embassy in Nepal says it is in contact with the families and local authorities while the two men's whereabouts remain unknown.
Key facts
- Two Japanese climbers have been out of contact since 15 October while climbing in the Nepal Himalaya. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Local authorities are searching; they are using helicopters, and a local official said drones are also being used. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- A local municipality official told Jiji Press the two men are aged 40 and 25. [ 3 , 4 ]
- They were climbing Gangapurna (7,455 m), in the Annapurna range, or a slightly lower neighbouring unclimbed peak, according to the official. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The Japanese embassy in Nepal has not disclosed their identities and is in contact with their families. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The embassy said it was contacted by local authorities on 20 October. [ 1 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The names of the two climbers. The embassy has not disclosed them, according to the outlets.
- Exactly which peak the two were climbing. Jiji Press and Nikkei quote an official saying Gangapurna or a slightly lower neighbouring unclimbed peak; Livedoor News and Yahoo! News Japan, citing local media, say Gangapurna.
- Where the two are and what condition they are in. The official quoted by Jiji Press said there was still no information.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Livedoor News published a report, dated 21 October, of two Japanese climbers missing since 15 October. [ 1 ]
- NHK reported that two Japanese men have been missing in the Nepal Himalaya since 15 October. [ 2 ]
- Jiji Press reported, from a local official interviewed on 21 October, that the two men are aged 40 and 25. [ 3 ]
- Nikkei carried the Jiji Press report. [ 4 ]
- Yahoo! News Japan published the report citing local media. [ 5 ]