‘Time is running out’ in desperate search for Malaysian, Singaporean climbers missing on Everest
- Muhammad Hawari Hashim, a Malaysian who is deaf and mute, went missing between Camp IV and Camp III during his descent after a successful ascent on May 18
- There has also been no news of Singaporean Shrinivas Sainis Dattatraya since he scaled the peak on Friday, then told his wife he wasn’t likely to return
With the climbing season little more than halfway done, the number of deaths at the world’s highest peak may have crossed 10 if those reported missing are confirmed dead. The death toll stood at nine last Thursday, and included the deaths of at least four people since May 17.
A Singaporean man who summited on Friday, Shrinivas Sainis Dattatraya, has also been reported as missing, while Australian national Jason Bernard Kennison – who learned to walk again after a 2006 accident – was confirmed to have died on Friday on his descent from the summit.
A group of four Malaysian climbers had flown to Nepal on April 2 to take on the world’s highest crest, drawing media attention back home with their observation of Ramadan and celebration of Eid at the foot of the mountain.
However, tragedy struck the group when Awang Askandar Ampuan Yaacub, 56, the director of the Kedah state civil defence agency, died in the so-called death zone, an 8,000-metre high point, where the pressure of oxygen is insufficient to survive for an extended time.
Malaysian authorities confirmed his death in a statement on Saturday. The cause of death was not revealed.
On Monday, Special Duties Minister Armizan Mohd Ali in Kuala Lumpur said Awang Askandar’s remains were being brought down to the Everest base camp.