Photo taken on September  2, 2023 shows the Mount Shishapangma seen from Baiku Lake in Nyalam county of Xigaze, Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region . (Xinhua News Agency/Chen Zepeng)

Two climbers were killed, with one seriously injured and two others missing after an avalanche hit the Mount Shishapangma in Nyalam county of Xigaze, Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Saturday afternoon, the regional sports and tourism bureau noted.

Shishapangma is one of the 14 mountains worldwide that stand at an altitude surpassing 8,000 meters with its elevation reaching 8,027 meters, making it the only mountain above 8,000 meters situated entirely within China. According to rescuers, the avalanche occurred at an altitude of 7,600 meters.

Preliminary investigations revealed that one US climber and one Nepalese climber were killed, another US climber and Nepalese climber remain missing, with a further  Nepalese climber seriously injured.

Rescuers were dispatched to the base camp of Shishapangma soon after the avalanche, and all climbing activities have been suspended. As of Saturday evening, the seriously injured Nepalese climber is said to be out of danger and is being escorted down the mountain by the rescue team.

Mountain-climbing activities at more than 3,500 meters, or 5,000 meters in Xizang, must be approved by provincial sports authorities. Climbing mountains over 7,000 meters is subject to the approval of the General Administration of Sport of China in accordance with the law, according to the announcement issued by the administration in 2022.

According to the official website of the General Administration of Sport, a strict process is required to apply for climbing activities on mountains over 7,000 meters in China, including an application form, relevant qualification certificates, an approval letter from the sports administrative department, a mountaineering plan, equipment list and a physical examination certificate. 

Climbing Mount Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest in the West, the world's highest peak, is even more demanding, with the requirement of previous "climbing experience on a 7,000-meter peak" proving daunting task for many to obtain a permit from authorities.

Global Times