Missing Chinese climber confirmed dead in Tibet

LHASA - Rescuers found the body of a missing Chinese climber on Mount Noijinkangsang to the north of the Himalayas Friday, after a day of search.

The amateur climber, surnamed Li, had gone missing while climbing the 7,206-meter-high mountain alone. He and his partner, surnamed Zhu, set up a camping base on Nov 8.

Zhaxi Cering, deputy captain of the Tibet Mountaineering Team and a member of the rescue team, said they used a telescope to find Li's body. Rescuers have given up efforts to retrieve the body because there is a risk of slipping if they approach the site.

The rescuers believe that Li died after plunging 600 meters from a height of 6,400 meters above sea level.

The team rushed to attempt a rescue after Li's relative heard he had gone missing and asked the team to carry out the mission.

The two climbers did not report their activities to the Tibet Sports Bureau as required for mountaineering.