No Way Down, Many Trapped on Everest’s Summit
Governments around the world are working to locate and confirm information regarding their citizens missing in Nepal following the horrific earthquake on April 25th.
According to AFP, the 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck at the peak of the tourist season. An estimated 300,000 tourists were in Nepal, including hundreds who were climbing Mount Everest.
Nearly 30 countries worldwide are now continuously updating the status of their citizens, including those confirmed safe and those who remain out of contact or are confirmed missing.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs reported 549 registered citizens in Nepal, with 200 confirmed safe. The Australian embassy in Kathmandu is actively seeking information on the remaining individuals, though there are no reports of casualties yet.
China has confirmed four citizens killed and ten others injured in the earthquake. Hong Kong confirmed that nine of its residents are still missing.
Colombia has seven citizens missing. The Czech Republic has lost contact with 54 of its citizens in Nepal post-earthquake, while France has up to 674 citizens in a similar situation.
India, Nepal’s neighboring country, reported 71 of its people killed in Nepal and border areas during the earthquake. A series of other countries, including Indonesia, Italy, Ireland, Israel, and Mexico, are still out of contact with many of their citizens following the Nepal earthquake.
The U.S. State Department confirmed on April 26th that three of its citizens were killed on Mount Everest due to avalanches triggered by the earthquake.
John Tsang Chi Sing, a Hong Kong national who narrowly escaped death on Everest’s summit, stated that many climbers are still trapped on the freezing snowy mountain without food or gas.
“There are still many climbers and guides who have not been found. There is no way down,” Tsang Chi Sing wrote on his personal Facebook page.
Tsang is believed to be one of only five individuals from mainland China and Hong Kong fortunate enough to be safe in the Everest area when the earthquake struck.