In a devastating update from the slopes of Nepal’s Dhaulagiri, the world’s seventh-highest peak, five Russian climbers have tragically lost their lives after falling from the treacherous mountain. The climbers, who had gone missing since October 6, have now been confirmed dead in a catastrophic fall.

Just yesterday, reports surfaced that the group—Alex Dusheyko, Oleg Kruglov, Vladimir Chistikov, Mikhail Nosenko, and Dmitrii Shpilevoi—were missing after attempting the summit. Pemba Jangbu Sherpa, managing director of I Am Trekking and Expedition, revealed that the climbers had last made contact with the base camp at 11 a.m. on October 6, but after that, communication abruptly ceased.

The tragedy raises serious concerns, especially after two other Russian climbers, Denis Aleksenko and Artem Tsenzevintsky, successfully summited Dhaulagiri earlier in the week and reported dangerous conditions on the upper ridge. The pair had warned of unstable snow and the absence of fixed ropes in the most perilous sections of the ascent—warnings that may now be tied to this heartbreaking accident.

Originally, the group consisted of six climbers, but Valerii Shamalo had abandoned his summit attempt and was making his way down when the others pressed forward. Despite the earlier caution, the five remaining climbers forged ahead, unaware that it would lead to their untimely demise.

This tragic event underscores the extreme risks involved in high-altitude mountaineering, as even the most experienced climbers are at the mercy of nature’s unforgiving elements. As rescue teams work to retrieve the bodies, the incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers lurking at the top of the world.