A climber from Bangladesh and another from South Korea have died on Mount Everest as hundreds flock to the world’s highest peak during good weather, Nepalese tourism officials said Tuesday.
“Both men died while descending from the summit on Monday,” an official with the tourism ministry told AFP from Everest Base Camp.
Sung Ho-Seo, 34, of South Korea was attempting the climb without supplementary oxygen and died on his way down the mountain.
Mohammed Hossain, 35, from Bangladesh, died in his tent a few hours after successfully climbing the summit.
“The exact cause of death is unknown, but altitude played a part,” said the official, Gyanendra Shrestha, adding that the bodies would not be recovered until after the summit season ended so as not to interrupt other climbers.
Both men perished in the “death zone” — above 8,000 metres, notorious for its difficult terrain and thin air.
Five other climbers have died on the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) mountain this season.