Islamabad, June 15 (EFE).- High-altitude porters have retrieved the body of one of the two Japanese climbers who went missing while attempting to summit the 7,027-meter Spantik Peak in Pakistan’s Karakoram Range, an official said Saturday.

The Alpine Club of Pakistan, the country’s mountaineering association, said Ryuseki Hiraoka and Atsushi Taguchi were ascending in alpine style, which involves climbing quickly with minimal gear and no fixed camps.

Both climbers reached Camp 2 at 5,300 meters on Monday. However, when another seven-member Japanese expedition team arrived at the camp the next day, Hiraoka and Taguchi were not there.

The team halted their expedition and returned to the base camp to alert the authorities.

The rescue operation began early Thursday, focusing on pinpointing the possible location of the climbers.

Military helicopters discovered “some traces” of the two climbers, but it was still unclear whether they were actually present, and their health status remained unknown, according to the Alpine Club.

“High-altitude porters have successfully retrieved the body of one of the two missing Japanese climbers,” the club said on Saturday, quoting Waliullah Falahi, Deputy Commissioner for Shigar district.

“High-altitude porters have successfully retrieved the body of one of two missing Japanese climbers,” the Club said on Saturday quoting Waliullah Falahi, Deputy Commissioner for Shigar district in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region.

According to the Alpine Club, the search for the second climber continues. It remains unclear which of the two climbers was found dead.

“Authorities are coordinating with the Japanese Embassy and the tour company, with decisions pending on whether to repatriate the body or bury it in Pakistan,” the club said.

Gilgit-Baltistan is home to five peaks over 8,000 meters (26,246 feet), including K2, the world’s second-highest mountain peak. Several mountaineers have lost their lives in recent years attempting to ascend the treacherous mountains in the region.

Spantik Peak, also known as Golden Peak, rises to 7,027 meters in the Karakoram subrange, situated between the Shigar and Nagar districts of Gilgit-Baltistan. It is famed for its golden hue during sunrise and sunset, attracting climbers from around the globe. EFE

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