Hopes are fading that an injured climber who has been caught on a mountain in Kyrgyzstan for 12 days after rescue efforts needed to be terminated due to unhealthy climate.
Natalia Nagovitsyna was descending from the highest of Jengish Chokusu, or Victory Peak, at Kyrgyzstan’s border with China, when she broke her leg on August 12.
A spokesperson for Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Emergency Conditions informed CNN in a message that the skilled mountaineer has been caught on the mountain ever since regardless of repeated rescue efforts which additionally claimed the lifetime of one other climber.
A bunch of climbers managed to achieve Nagovitsyna after she suffered her damage, Russian and Italian media report. Whereas they have been in a position to present her with some provides, they might not evacuate her as a result of excessive situations on the mountain at the moment.
Italian mountaineer Luca Sinigaglia, one of many climbers making an attempt to avoid wasting Nagovitsyna, died on the mountain on August 15, in line with an announcement by the Italian Ministry of International Affairs. The ministry mentioned that unhealthy climate situations have thus far made it inconceivable to recuperate his physique.
A surveillance drone final noticed Nagovitsyna on a ridge not removed from the highest of the mountain on August 19. The emergencies ministry spokesperson informed CNN that at the moment, she was believed to be alive. The spokesperson refused to touch upon whether or not the ministry believes Nagovitsyna continues to be alive.
However deteriorating climate situations, together with heavy snowfall, meant the seek for Nagovitsyna was suspended on Saturday, the spokesperson mentioned.
At 24,400 ft (7,439 meters) above sea degree, the Victory peak is the best mountain of the Tian Shan vary.
It’s thought of a particularly troublesome mountain to climb, partly due to its location. Because the phrase’s northernmost mountain over 7,000 meters, Victory Peak is understood for terribly chilly and harsh situations and a really brief climbing season.
The mountain is taken into account one of many so-called Snow Leopard mountains, the 5 7,000 peaks within the former Soviet Union. Climbing all 5 is taken into account a significant achievement, and just some 700 individuals, together with some 30 girls, have carried out that.
Nagovitsyna’s husband Sergei Nagovitsyn died throughout an expedition to Khan-Tengri, one other of the 5 Snow Leopard peaks. Natalia was with him through the climb when he turned incapacitated. Reviews say she refused to go away him till rescuers arrived.
CNN’s Laura Sharman contributed reporting.
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