K2 expedition: Up to 11 feared dead, Limerick man still missing
Latest reports from various base camps at K2 on the Pakistan/Chinese border state that upwards of eleven climbers may have lost their lives on the mountain.
Limerickman Gerard McDonnell as well as several fellow climbers disappeared after an ice avalanche at 8,000 Metres this morning (Saturday). The previous day, McDonnell became the first Irish man to reach the summit of K2.
Reports on the sequence of events are still conflicting, with some sources reporting 11 dead and six missing, while others, such as the New York Times reporting nine dead.
Two climbers were reported by one website, EverestNews.com to have died on the way up the mountain.
Those believed to have perished are reported to be from South Korea, Nepal, Serbia, Norway, and the Netherlands.
The disaster is reported to be the highest ever death toll taken on K2.
The Dutch Norit Expedition website, which McDonnell was a member, still lists him as missing along with three other colleagues.
For further updates, you can refer to the Norit Expedition website by Clicking here.
UPDATE From CNN: Friends and fellow climbers who have since decended from K2 are now sure that all eleven of the climbers reported missing are now dead.