9 Mountaineers Caught in Avalanche in Peru at 19,000-Feet | 5 Injured, 4 Killed

Nine mountaineers were caught in an avalanche on 22,200′ Huascaran Peak in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru on Tuesday, July 19th, 2016.

The group consisted of 4 Peruvians, 3 Mexicans, and 2 Spaniards.

5 of the climbers were rescued and 4 are currently missing.  Two Mexicans and two Peruvians are missing.  The missing are most likely dead.

One of the missing is Peruvian mountain guide Julio Suarez Rey.  Aspiring guide Gilberto Loli is also missing.

The avalanche occurred at 19,000-feet on Huascaran.  The climbers were hit by the avalanche as they were ascending to the col between the two summits of Huascaran in an area called La Canaleta (the chute) or La Garganta (the throat).

The avalanche was reportedly triggered when a large block of ice fell onto the slope the climbers were ascending.  Some of the climbers were reportedly 180-foot deep crevasse.

The 5 injured climbers were reportedly rescued within 3 hours by the National High Mountain Police of Peru and the Association of Peruvian Mountain Guides.  The 5 injured climbers were given first aid and evacuated.  No easy task at 19,000-feet.  The search continues for the bodies of the other 4 climbers.

22,200-foot Husacaran is the 4th highest peak in the Andes mountains of South America.  There were the first fatality in the Cordillera Blanca this year.  Many people die in these mountains every year.