Singaporean climber dies descending from world’s eighth-highest peak

KATHMANDU, September 17 — A 50-year-old Singaporean mountaineer succumbed to illness while descending from Mount Manaslu, the world's eighth-highest peak in Nepal, according to expedition organizers. Pemba Sherpa of 8K Expeditions informed AFP that the climber had felt unwell after an acclimatization period from Camp II. The body of the deceased will be airlifted to Singapore.

This climbing season, 480 individuals are vying to ascend the 8,163-meter (26,781-foot) high mountain in Nepal. This month, a 20-year-old Nepali porter was discovered deceased in his tent at the mountain's base camp, marking the first foreign fatality of the autumn climbing season. Autumn expeditions on the Himalayas are less favored due to shorter, colder days, snowy conditions, and a limited summit window compared to the bustling spring.

Nepal has granted 536 permits for nine peaks, slightly over half of the total permits issued in spring. Nepal boasts eight of the world's 14 highest peaks, attracting foreign climbers who significantly contribute to the nation's revenue. However, fears for the industry have surged following a catastrophic flood in late August, though most climbers have not abandoned their expeditions.