Experts Blame Climate Change for Mount Everest Deaths
- U-Report
The Nepalese government has been criticized for issuing 479 permits this year, the highest number ever. With each one costing £12,000 or IDR 220 million.
Climbing is a major revenue generator for the cash-strapped small country, and the government is reluctant to reduce the number.
Khatiwada denied there were too many, saying the numbers were high this year because the climbing window opened earlier and the season was longer than usual, so there was no overcrowding.
The rising death toll comes as the 70th anniversary of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's historic first ascent to the summit of Everest is celebrated on Monday.
It marked the start of a global obsession among mountaineers to climb the world's highest peak, with more than 10,000 ascents since then and requests for climbing permits increasing every year.
Ang Norbu Sherpa, president of the Nepal National Mountain Guides Association, says "too many" permits are being issued and it is putting environmental pressure on the mountain.
"The climbing pattern has changed, it used to be tough climbers but now many novice climbers want to reach the top of Everest," Sherpa said.
Experts and famous climbers have warned that Everest, which has an altitude of 8,848 meters, is now seen as a "tourist destination" and a playground for thrill-seeking rich people, even those with little experience of climbing at altitude, who are willing to pay more than £48,000 to be guided to the summit.
Alan Arnette, a mountaineer who climbed Everest in 2011 and now writes frequently about the requirements, said that this year was "chaos".
"The root cause of the high death rate lies with inexperienced clients who push themselves too hard and don't turn back soon enough," he said.
Banjir Bandang di Nepal Hanyutkan 40 Rumah, Jembatan hingga Proyek Pembangkit Listrik
Sekitar 35 hingga 40 rumah hanyut akibat banjir bandang di Distrik Gorkha, Nepal tengah pada Minggu dini hari. Banjir bandang terjadi di Sungai Budhi Gandaki
