Czech climber, 46, dies after falling into Pakistani ravine

ISTANBUL

A Czech climber died Thursday after falling into a ravine in Pakistan, according to a mountaineering club in the South Asian nation.

Klára Kolouchová, 46, an accomplished mountaineer and the first Czech woman to summit Mt. Everest and K2, was on an expedition to the world’s ninth-highest peak, Nanga Parbat, 8,125 meters (26,657 feet), often dubbed the “Killer Mountain” because of its deadly history.

The accident occurred between Camp I and Camp II near Bunar Base Camp in the Diamer region of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Preliminary reports suggest the tragedy may have been triggered by an oxygen cylinder explosion, according to Pakistan’s official mountaineering association.

Kolouchova arrived in Pakistan on June 15 with her husband and a five-member team. After staying in Chilas, they reached Bonner Base Camp on June 17.

Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the scene, and recovery operations are underway.

*Aamir Latif contributed to the story from Pakistan