ISLAMABAD: Two elite Japanese mountain climbers, Kazuya Hiraide and Kenro Nakajima, fell from Pakistan’s K2, according to officials on Sunday. The climbers were attempting to scale the western face of the world’s second highest mountain climbing in Alpine Style that prioritizes speed and minimal use of fixed ropes.
The incident occurred on Saturday when the climbers fell from a height of 7,500 meters (24,600 feet). The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) Secretary Karrar Haidri confirmed the fall in a statement. A helicopter rescue was attempted, but the aircraft could not land due to the challenging conditions. Wali Ullah Falahi, the deputy commissioner for Shigar district, said the helicopter spotted the motionless bodies of the climbers but had to turn back without confirming their status.
Ishii Sports, the Japanese outdoor goods brand sponsoring the climbers, stated that the high altitude and steep slope prevented the helicopter from landing. The company’s statement noted that the climbers could be seen, but their status remained unclear. They are currently reviewing how to proceed with the rescue.
Rescue operations on K2 are notoriously dangerous, particularly on the western face, which is more vertical and exposed compared to the southeastern ridge, the most common route for climbers. The western face has only been successfully scaled once before by a Russian team in 2007.
Hiraide and Nakajima were highly esteemed in the climbing community, having won multiple Piolets d’Or awards, often referred to as the “Oscars of climbing,” for their exceptional achievements in the sport. The ACP highlighted their meticulous planning and training for the K2 expedition, showcasing their dedication to high-altitude mountaineering.
This tragic incident follows the deaths of three other Japanese climbers on the 7,027-meter Spantik mountain in Pakistan’s Gilgit Baltistan region earlier this summer. Pakistan is home to five of the world’s 14 mountains above 8,000 meters, including K2, which is considered more challenging than Everest and is often called the “Savage Mountain.”
