US mountaineer Anna Gutu and guide killed in Tibet avalanche

US mountaineer Anna Gutu and her guide were confirmed killed in an avalanche on a Tibetan mountain on Sunday, while two others, including another American, are still missing, authorities said.

Gutu, 32, and her Nepalese guide, Mingmar Sherpa, disappeared on Tibet’s Mount Shishapangma on Saturday after an avalanche swept over them at about 25,000 feet, according to Chinese media reports.

American climber Gina Marie Rzucidlo and her guide, Tenjen Sherpa, were still missing in the high-altitude tragedy.

Karma Gelen Sherlpa, another Nepalese guide, was critically injured and had to be escorted down the mountain and taken to a nearby hospital.

In all, 52 climbers from the US, Great Britain, Japan, Italy and other countries were attempting to summit Shishapangma, the world’s 14th tallest peak, when disaster struck with a pair of avalanches.

The mountain rises 26,335 feet above sea level.

The Himalayan mountain climbing industry typically peaks in October because it marks the end of the rainy season – although experts warn that climate change has made avalanches more frequent.

At least 120 people were killed by avalanches in the Indian portion of the Himalayas in the past two years.

Sherpa Tenjen, the 35-year-old guide still missing with Rzucidlo, was part of the record-setting team that climbed all 14 of the world’s tallest peaks in the fastest time ever earlier this year.

Tenjen, who guided Norwegian climber Kristin Harila to achieve the feat, sought to become the youngest mountaineer ever to summit each of the 14 mountains twice.

With Post wires