4 people die in NZ Avalanche
Dec 31st 2003, 7:38 am
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4 people die in NZ Avalanche
New Zealand avalanche: 4 killed, 2 injured
WELLINGTON - An avalanche swept six climbers off New Zealand's second highest mountain, killing four of them and injuring two, police said on Wednesday.
The party of six was caught on Mount Tasman -- near Mount Cook, where the accident was initially reported to have taken place. "Three people died at the scene and one later at Mt Cook village," police said in a statement.
The two injured climbers were airlifted to Christchurch Hospital for treatment. "It is unknown what triggered the avalanche at this stage but inquiries into the cause of the accident will be made," the statement said.
Weather around the 11,476 feet mountain in the South Island was reported to be clear and sunny at the time. Police said two of the dead were Australians and the rest of those killed and injured were New Zealanders. Initially they were all believed to be locals.
The mountain is just north of the country's highest peak, Mount Cook, and is one of the attractions in the 172,000 acre Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park with its 22 peaks, 15 of which are above nearly 10,000 feet.
The accident takes the death toll from climbing accidents in the national park to 10 since the beginning of the year and is the fourth mountaineering mishap in as many weeks.
Four Latvian climbers were killed three weeks ago on Mount Cook after apparently falling at least 900 feet from near the summit, while in other incidents several climbers have been injured by falling ice.
In June, two local climbers died after they fell from a ridge or were hit by an avalanche on a glacier in the park. Thousands of tourists from around the world flock to the region every year to climb the technically challenging Southern Alps.
More than 200 have been killed on and around Aoraki-Mount Cook since records were first kept, according to the Department of Conservation.
abs-cbnNEWS.com/Reuters
WELLINGTON - An avalanche swept six climbers off New Zealand's second highest mountain, killing four of them and injuring two, police said on Wednesday.
The party of six was caught on Mount Tasman -- near Mount Cook, where the accident was initially reported to have taken place. "Three people died at the scene and one later at Mt Cook village," police said in a statement.
The two injured climbers were airlifted to Christchurch Hospital for treatment. "It is unknown what triggered the avalanche at this stage but inquiries into the cause of the accident will be made," the statement said.
Weather around the 11,476 feet mountain in the South Island was reported to be clear and sunny at the time. Police said two of the dead were Australians and the rest of those killed and injured were New Zealanders. Initially they were all believed to be locals.
The mountain is just north of the country's highest peak, Mount Cook, and is one of the attractions in the 172,000 acre Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park with its 22 peaks, 15 of which are above nearly 10,000 feet.
The accident takes the death toll from climbing accidents in the national park to 10 since the beginning of the year and is the fourth mountaineering mishap in as many weeks.
Four Latvian climbers were killed three weeks ago on Mount Cook after apparently falling at least 900 feet from near the summit, while in other incidents several climbers have been injured by falling ice.
In June, two local climbers died after they fell from a ridge or were hit by an avalanche on a glacier in the park. Thousands of tourists from around the world flock to the region every year to climb the technically challenging Southern Alps.
More than 200 have been killed on and around Aoraki-Mount Cook since records were first kept, according to the Department of Conservation.
abs-cbnNEWS.com/Reuters
