3 Latvian climbers killed in fall on Denali in Alaska; others injured

Three Latvian climbers were killed and another was injured after part of a seven-member expedition fell near Denali Pass on Mount McKinley in Alaska, according to the Latvian Mountaineering Association and the National Park Service.

The accident happened late Wednesday at about 18,200 feet, between High Camp and Denali Pass, as the group was climbing Denali, the highest mountain in North America. Park rangers received a report at about 11:55 p.m. that four climbers had fallen.

Four members of the expedition fell near Denali Pass, according to the National Park Service. The Latvian Mountaineering Association said three of them died, while the fourth, Mārtiņš Bilzēns, survived and was evacuated in critical condition.

The association identified the three climbers who died as Inese Pučeka, Vija Olte and Renārs Kunigs-Salaks, describing them as talented and experienced climbers.

In a later update, citing information from the Latvian Embassy in the United States, the association said Bilzēns was in a hospital and doctors were not concerned for his life.

Three other members of the expedition were able to return to High Camp at 17,000 feet after helping their fallen partners, according to the National Park Service. The agency said their physical condition later declined after assisting with rescue efforts at high elevation, and they were evacuated from the mountain Friday.

The Latvian Mountaineering Association identified the surviving climbers as Valdis Puriņš, Edgars Madžulis and Guntis Svariņš. The group said all three had reached rescuers and were taken to Talkeetna, a small Alaska town used as a staging point for Denali expeditions. Two of them suffered frostbite.

Recovery efforts for the three climbers who died were still ongoing, the National Park Service said. Weather, terrain and mountain conditions were affecting access to the site.

Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, is the highest mountain in North America and one of the most demanding high-altitude climbs in the United States.

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