Avalanche in Peru leaves four European climbers missing

June 4, 2002

LIMA, Peru - A rescue patrol searched a snowcapped peak in Peru's Andes mountains on Tuesday for four European climbers who were feared dead after being swept away in an avalanche, police said.

The three Austrian men and one German man disappeared early Monday morning after an icy crest they were climbing broke loose from Huascaran mountain and caused an avalanche, said Luis Garate, head of Peru's high mountain rescue unit.

Another Austrian climber was injured and seven others, all Austrian, escaped unharmed, Garate said from Yungay, a town below Huascaran and 200 miles (325 kilometers) northwest of Lima.

They were climbing at other points on the peak and descended to a base camp after the accident to ask the porters to notify police, Garate said. The eight surviving climbers were rescued by helicopter on Monday, he said.

Garate said that the chances of finding the missing men alive were slim and that bad weather was hindering search efforts.

He identified the missing German as Manfred Rab and the Austrians as Walter Mollinger, Peter Flatzor and George Eder.

Huascaran, at 22,334 feet (6,768 meters), is Peru's highest peak and attracts climbers from around the world.

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