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| China accused over Himalayas casualties | China accused over Himalayas casualties |
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| China's response to a wave of protests in Tibet this year, including restricting access to the Tibetan Himalayas, may have led to a higher number of casualties in the mountaineering disaster this weekend, expedition organisers have claimed. | China's response to a wave of protests in Tibet this year, including restricting access to the Tibetan Himalayas, may have led to a higher number of casualties in the mountaineering disaster this weekend, expedition organisers have claimed. |
| China rejected climbing permits for mountaineers wanting to climb in Tibet, meaning that more people than usual attempted to ascend the mountain in Nepal. | China rejected climbing permits for mountaineers wanting to climb in Tibet, meaning that more people than usual attempted to ascend the mountain in Nepal. |
| About 25 climbers were preparing to leave their tents at a camp high on the mountain of Manaslu, the world's eight highest peak, at dawn on Sunday morning when debris from a falling ice cliff swept over them. Rescuers have so far brought down the bodies of eight victims ó four French, one each from Germany, Italy and Spain, and a Nepali guide. | About 25 climbers were preparing to leave their tents at a camp high on the mountain of Manaslu, the world's eight highest peak, at dawn on Sunday morning when debris from a falling ice cliff swept over them. Rescuers have so far brought down the bodies of eight victims ó four French, one each from Germany, Italy and Spain, and a Nepali guide. |
| With several other climbers missing, the death toll is expected to rise, making the tragedy one of the worst in recent mountaineering history. Ten were successfully evacuated. | With several other climbers missing, the death toll is expected to rise, making the tragedy one of the worst in recent mountaineering history. Ten were successfully evacuated. |
| Though veteran climbers and experts say that the numbers attempting an ascent of the mountain did not cause the disaster, many more mountaineers were present on the mountain than is usual after Chinese authorities cut down on permits for mountaineers hoping to climb in Tibet. | Though veteran climbers and experts say that the numbers attempting an ascent of the mountain did not cause the disaster, many more mountaineers were present on the mountain than is usual after Chinese authorities cut down on permits for mountaineers hoping to climb in Tibet. |
| About 30 teams registered to climb Manaslu, a 50 percent increase over last year, said Ang Tshering, who runs the popular Asian Trekking agency in Nepal. | About 30 teams registered to climb Manaslu, a 50 percent increase over last year, said Ang Tshering, who runs the popular Asian Trekking agency in Nepal. |
| Local journalists reported that there were around 250 climbers on the mountain when disaster struck, almost flattening a camp at an altitude of 7,000m. Most were at base camp however and out of danger. | Local journalists reported that there were around 250 climbers on the mountain when disaster struck, almost flattening a camp at an altitude of 7,000m. Most were at base camp however and out of danger. |
| Expeditions attempting the 8165 metre peak appear to have included two teams both aiming to complete the first ski descent of the mountain without the assistance of bottled oxygen. One team had been forced to switch to a Nepali peak at the last minute after being refused a visa by Chinese authorities. | Expeditions attempting the 8165 metre peak appear to have included two teams both aiming to complete the first ski descent of the mountain without the assistance of bottled oxygen. One team had been forced to switch to a Nepali peak at the last minute after being refused a visa by Chinese authorities. |
| Tibet is a sensitive area for Chinese authorities which limit access for foreign tourists when tensions there rise. Permits to mountaineering expeditions were cut off altogether in 2008 while Chinese climbers took the Olympic torch to the top of Mount Everest before the Beijing Games. | Tibet is a sensitive area for Chinese authorities which limit access for foreign tourists when tensions there rise. Permits to mountaineering expeditions were cut off altogether in 2008 while Chinese climbers took the Olympic torch to the top of Mount Everest before the Beijing Games. |
| More than 50 Tibetans have died after setting light to themselves since March last year to bring attention to what they say is their suffering under China's repressive policies. In the most recent incident, two teenagers, a monk and a former monk, died near the Kirti monastery, a centre of protests in eastern parts of the historical area of Tibet , outside the current "Tibetan Autonomous Region". | More than 50 Tibetans have died after setting light to themselves since March last year to bring attention to what they say is their suffering under China's repressive policies. In the most recent incident, two teenagers, a monk and a former monk, died near the Kirti monastery, a centre of protests in eastern parts of the historical area of Tibet , outside the current "Tibetan Autonomous Region". |
| The protests have led to major security clampdowns. | The protests have led to major security clampdowns. |
| China says Tibet has always been part of its territory and calls protesters who self-immolate criminals or "separatists". Tibetans say the Himalayan region was virtually independent for centuries. | China says Tibet has always been part of its territory and calls protesters who self-immolate criminals or "separatists". Tibetans say the Himalayan region was virtually independent for centuries. |
| Bikram Newpane of the Katmandu-based Himalayan Rescue Association said China's ban on permits for climbing the northern face of the Himalayas in Tibet could have added to the dangers. | Bikram Newpane of the Katmandu-based Himalayan Rescue Association said China's ban on permits for climbing the northern face of the Himalayas in Tibet could have added to the dangers. |
| "It is never 100 percent safe up on the mountains and the risks are always there. But there were more people on the mountains this year," Newpane said. | "It is never 100 percent safe up on the mountains and the risks are always there. But there were more people on the mountains this year," Newpane said. |
| Veteran Nepali climbers called the disaster "natural" and said it was wrong to say it was "man made". | Veteran Nepali climbers called the disaster "natural" and said it was wrong to say it was "man made". |
| But overcrowding has been a constant concern on sought-after peaks because of limited space on popular routes and short "weather windows" when conditions allow climbers to reach the summit of mountains. | But overcrowding has been a constant concern on sought-after peaks because of limited space on popular routes and short "weather windows" when conditions allow climbers to reach the summit of mountains. |
| Four people were killed on Mount Everest earlier this year when dozens of climbers clogged the same narrow trail to the summit, forcing many to stay too long at high altitudes and exhaust their oxygen supplies. | Four people were killed on Mount Everest earlier this year when dozens of climbers clogged the same narrow trail to the summit, forcing many to stay too long at high altitudes and exhaust their oxygen supplies. |
| One Nepalese official said the popularity of Manaslu, first climbed in 1956, was not a problem. | One Nepalese official said the popularity of Manaslu, first climbed in 1956, was not a problem. |
| "Yes, base camp might have been a bit crowded but the route higher up was not. This is a natural disaster. Not man-made in any way," he told The Guardian shortly after news of the tragedy broke on Sunday. | "Yes, base camp might have been a bit crowded but the route higher up was not. This is a natural disaster. Not man-made in any way," he told The Guardian shortly after news of the tragedy broke on Sunday. |
| Authorities in poverty-stricken Nepal are sensitive to charges that too many permits for climbing mountains are sold to foreign expeditions. However, the permits generate much needed hard currency. A permit for Manaslu costs $5000. | Authorities in poverty-stricken Nepal are sensitive to charges that too many permits for climbing mountains are sold to foreign expeditions. However, the permits generate much needed hard currency. A permit for Manaslu costs $5000. |
| Ang Tsering Sherpa, former president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association who has climbed Manaslu several times, said there was "no any exact reason for any one avalanche" though climate change could have played a role. | Ang Tsering Sherpa, former president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association who has climbed Manaslu several times, said there was "no any exact reason for any one avalanche" though climate change could have played a role. |
| Climbers blame global warming for some of the recent tragedies on the Himalayan peaks, which have been hit by warmer temperatures which make sudden melting of otherwise stable frozen snow slopes more likely. | Climbers blame global warming for some of the recent tragedies on the Himalayan peaks, which have been hit by warmer temperatures which make sudden melting of otherwise stable frozen snow slopes more likely. |
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