Peru: Huascarán mountaineer search suspended due to avalanche risk

Rescue operations for three Peruvian mountaineers lost on Mount Huascarán have been halted due to severe weather conditions and the dangerous terrain. The climbers, Alejandro Ugarte, Saúl Mendoza, and Artidoro Salas, have been missing since July 14th.

Eric Albino Lliuya, president of the Peruvian Andean Rescue Association, stated that the decision to suspend the search was made because of deep crevasses, large ice blocks, and the constant risk of avalanches in the area where the climbers are believed to be, between 6,400 and 6,500 meters above sea level. "Ascending Mount Huascarán is not simple. There are crevasses, avalanches, and the weather is extremely adverse," Lliuya explained, noting these conditions endanger specialized rescue personnel.

The three mountaineers reportedly reached the summit before beginning their descent through a particularly challenging section of the massif, where contact was lost. The resumption of the search depends on improved weather and snow conditions, as well as the availability of high-mountain rescue specialists, many of whom are currently engaged in other expeditions during the peak season in the Cordillera Blanca.

Authorities have closed the section of Huascarán between Camps 1 and 2 for 15 days, a measure intended to facilitate search efforts and ensure the safety of other climbers on the mountain.

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Ascending Mount Huascarán is not simple. There are crevasses, avalanches, and the weather is extremely adverse.