Chinese climber Guan Jing tragically died on Tuesday night after being struck by falling rocks while descending from the summit of K2, the world’s second-highest mountain.
The accident took place on the Abruzzi Spur route, between Camp I and the Advanced Base Camp — a section well-known for frequent rockfalls. Guan had successfully reached the summit on Monday alongside a group of climbers before beginning her descent.
Recovery operations for her body are currently underway. Other climbers who summited K2 on the same day have returned safely to base camp. In total, over 30 climbers reached the summit on Monday.
Last month, another tragic incident occurred on Pakistan’s highest peak, K2, when an avalanche struck near Camp I. Four climbers were affected: two returned safely to base camp, one foreign climber sustained minor injuries, and Iftikhar Hussain Sadpara, a renowned climber from Skardu, lost his life. His body was recovered shortly after the incident.
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In addition, Klara Kolouchova, a celebrated Czech mountaineer, died last month during an expedition on Nanga Parbat, falling between Camps 1 and 2. Kolouchova was the first Czech woman to summit both Everest and K2, two of the world’s tallest peaks.
Pakistan is home to five of the world’s 14 mountains above 8,000 meters, including K2, which is widely regarded as a more challenging climb than Everest, earning it the nickname “Savage Mountain.”