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)
