Rescue efforts are critically underway for Japanese mountaineers Ryuseki Hiraoka and Atsushi Taguchi, who have been missing on Spantik Peak in Shigar Valley since Monday. The pair, who were attempting to summit the 7,027-meter peak, were located by Pakistan Army helicopters on Thursday, but harsh weather and challenging terrain prevented an immediate aerial rescue.
On Friday, a team of climbers and high-altitude mountaineers initiated a ground rescue operation. The team, comprising four Japanese climbers and six local mountaineers, reached Camp 2 of Spantik Peak by Friday evening. Shigar Deputy Commissioner Waliullah Falahi stated that due to the impossibility of conducting rescue operations in the dark, the team would spend the night at Camp 2.
“Due to the challenging terrain and weather conditions, the helicopters were unable to land or hover in the area to rescue them,” explained DC Falahi. The team plans to descend towards the last known location of the climbers, approximately 300 meters below Camp 2, at first light on Saturday morning.
The situation is dire as time is running out for the missing climbers. The initial search by helicopters provided hope when the climbers were spotted, but the inability to land has added a significant delay. The high-altitude conditions, coupled with the weather, pose severe risks to both the missing climbers and the rescue team.
Ryuseki Hiraoka and Atsushi Taguchi had been climbing in Alpine style, which means they were ascending without the support of porters. They were last seen at Camp 2 by another Japanese climbing team, which raised the alarm when Hiraoka and Taguchi did not return.
As the rescue team prepares to descend the treacherous slopes of Spantik Peak, the entire mountaineering community and the families of the missing climbers wait anxiously for news. The combined efforts of the Japanese and local climbers highlight the solidarity and determination to bring their fellow climbers to safety.