Sherpas find 4 climbers dead in Everest camp, taking total death toll in past month to 10

A Nepalese porter carries goods along a pathway in the Himalayas, with Mount Everest on the left. PHOTO: AFP

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepali sherpas found four climbers dead in a camp on Mount Everest, officials said on Wednesday (May 24), taking the death toll on the world's highest mountain to 10 in the past month.

The bodies of the four climbers were found inside two tents at Camp Four, located at 8,000m, overnight, Mingma Sherpa of the Seven Summit Treks group to which the sherpas belonged said in Kathmandu.

It was not clear how they died and their identities had not been established, Mingma, who like many sherpas is known by his first name, said.

Ang Tshering Sherpa, the president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, said it was windy on the mountain on Tuesday.

Ten climbers have died on Mount Everest, including one on the Chinese side, during this climbing season, which ends this month.

The sherpas who discovered the bodies were on their way to retrieve the body of Vladimir Strba of Slovakia who died near the 8,850m summit on the weekend.

Strba's body has been brought down to Camp Two at 6,400m and was expected to be brought down to base camp later on Wednesday, Mingma said.

Hundreds of climbers are attempting the summit from both the Nepali and Chinese routes this year.

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