Argentina: German climber dies in Fitz Roy avalanche

A German climber was found dead on Friday after an avalanche in Patagonia in southern Argentina, officials said.

The avalanche took place Thursday afternoon near the peak of the Aguja Guillaumet (Guillaumet needle) in the Fitz Roy range, according to a statement released by Los Glaciares National Park.

An Austrian climber was injured, while a third climber was able to escape and report the incident. Authorities then launched a search and rescue operation, the statement added.

About 40 rescuers and an army helicopter were deployed, but they were only able to reach the site of the accident by Friday morning.

Who were the climbers?

The three climbers were reported to be experienced mountain guides and members of the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (UIAGM). 

The national park statement said the body of the German climber, identified as Robert Grasegger, was found early morning on Friday.

Meanwhile, 28-year-old Austrian mountaineer Ana Truntschnig suffered several broken bones and was being treated in an intensive care unit in El Calafate, some 2,750 kilometers (1,708 miles) southwest of Buenos Aires.

‘For experienced climbers’

The Aguja Guillaumet, located south of the Andes and on the border with Chile, is part of the Mount Fitz Roy range — considered one of the most accessible mountaineering areas in the region.

“Aguja Guillaumet is the ideal (introduction) to an Alpine ascent in Patagonia, for experienced climbers,” according to tourism agency Mountaineering Patagonia.

• 

  In pictures: Turkey avalanche rescue efforts take deadly turn

  Twin avalanches hit eastern Turkey

  Emergency crews working to rescue victims from an avalanche were caught in a second avalanche on Wednesday. At least 15 other people were believed to be trapped in the snow.

• 

  In pictures: Turkey avalanche rescue efforts take deadly turn

  Rescue turns deadly

  Five people died in the first avalanche on Tuesday, which hit the site close to Turkey’s border with Iran. The second avalanche on Wednesday afternoon took the death toll up to 38, most victims were rescue workers.

• 

  In pictures: Turkey avalanche rescue efforts take deadly turn

  Buried allive for 25 minutes

  A snow-clearing vehicle and a minibus were buried in the first avalanche. All the passengers of the minibus made it out alive. The operator of the snow-clearing vehicle reportedly remained buried for 25 minutes before he escaped and got help.

• 

  In pictures: Turkey avalanche rescue efforts take deadly turn

  Police officers killed

  300 rescuers worked through the night after the first avalanche, even as heavy snow, strong winds and fog disrupted the operation. According to government officials, eight military police officers, three village guards and a firefighter are among those killed.

  Author: Dharvi Vaid, Seerat Chabba

“The terrain involves steep screes, glacier travel, ice climbing, and rock climbing,” it said.

The peak is named after French aviator Henri Guillaumet, a hero of the Aeropostale, the French airmail service.

Guillaumet flew over the Andes more than 300 times in the 1930s.

adi/nm (AFP, EFE)

Argentina: German climber dies in Fitz Roy avalanche
Source: Pinoy Pop News