The Star Early Edition

Missing mountainee­rs are feared dead

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authoritie­s believe that two mountainee­rs, a Spaniard and an Argentinia­n, missing for over a week in Pakistan’s northern Himalayan mountains perished in an avalanche, officials said yesterday.

Alberto Zerain Berasategi from Spain and Mariano Galvan from Argentina were last heard from on June 23 while at the 6 100m base of Nanga Parbat, the world’s ninthhighe­st mountain, said Karrar Haidri, spokesman for the Alpine Club of Pakistan. “The spot they were believed to be in has been struck by a large avalanche and helicopter rescue officials said (survival) appears unlikely.”

Rescue operations were called off on Saturday. Both were experience­d climbers. Zerain had scaled the world’s two tallest mountains, Everest and K2.

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