Four mountaineers have died in
climbing Mt. Qomolangma, the highest peak in the world, in two
days, officials from the Tibetan Mountaineering Association
confirmed in Lhasa on Friday.
The fatal tragedies involved three South Koreans and a Japanese
woman doctor, namely South Korean Park Mu-Taek (passport No. DG
0559304), Jang Min (passport No. DG 097030) and Baek Ioon-Ho
(passport No. DG 0559730), as well as Japanese Ota Shoko (passport
No. TE 4943479).
The body of South Korean expedition team captain was found at a
base to a sea level of 8,500 meters, and its vice captain and
another body were also found at a sea level of 8,450 meters. All
three Koreans lost their lives on their ways back from the peak on
May 19.
On May 20, Ota Shoko, born on March 1, 1941, also lost her
life.
Park was born on June 22, 1969, Jang on January 26, 1978, and Baek
on December 5, 1967.
The Koreans were scheduled to leave on June 2, while Ota Shoko
hoped to complete her adventure in early June.
(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2004)