The body of Ryuseki Hiraoka, one of the two missing Japanese climbers, was discovered on Spantik Peak in Shigar Valley, officials confirmed on Saturday, five days after they went missing during their ascent of the 7,027-meter peak.
Shigar Deputy Commissioner Waliullah Falahi confirmed that the body of Ryuseki Hiraoka had been recovered by a nine-member rescue team. “The nine-member rescue team recovered the body of one climber and kept it at a safe place. Now they are searching for the other climber,” he said, referring to Atsushi Taguchi, who remains missing.
The rescue operation, which faced numerous challenges due to the harsh terrain and weather conditions, has been temporarily suspended, and the team returned to base camp on Saturday evening. Earlier in the day, the rescue team descended 300 meters into a crevice where the climbers were feared to have fallen.
Deputy Commissioner Falahi stated that the decision on how to bring down Hiraoka’s body from the peak will be made after consultation with his family and officials from the Japanese embassy. “Rescue teams are doing everything possible to support the search operation and ensure a swift and safe conclusion,” said a spokesperson for the Shigar DC’s office.
The Japanese Embassy in Islamabad and the consulate in Karachi have been informed of the developments, and Pakistani authorities are working closely with them to ensure a successful outcome to the ongoing search operation.
Naiknaam Karim, CEO of Adventure Tours Pakistan, who was the tour operator for the missing climbers, confirmed the discovery of Hiraoka’s body. Karim noted that the climbers appeared to have slipped from a slope and fallen 300 meters into a crevice, making survival in such conditions extremely difficult.
The two climbers, Hiraoka and Taguchi, were attempting to climb Spantik Peak in Alpine style, without the assistance of porters. They reached Camp 2, situated at an altitude of 5,300 meters, on Monday. When a separate seven-member Japanese expedition team arrived at the camp the next day, Hiraoka and Taguchi were missing. The team then suspended their expedition and returned to the base camp to report the incident to officials.
The discovery of Hiraoka’s body brings a tragic note to the ongoing search efforts, and the mountaineering community remains hopeful for the safe recovery of Taguchi. The rescue teams are continuing their efforts with determination, despite the difficult conditions, to locate the missing climber and bring closure to this unfortunate incident.