Three climbers have died after falling on Alaska's Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, North America's tallest mountain. A fourth climber was rescued, according to officials.
The four were part of a seven-person group that had travelled to the United States to ascend the 20,310ft (6,190m) peak, the Latvian Mountaineering Association confirmed. The accident occurred at Denali Pass on Wednesday, the National Park Service said.
Three climbers initially returned to camp after the fall, but poor weather delayed a helicopter response. On Thursday afternoon, rescuers used a long-line extraction to save one climber, who was taken to hospital in critical condition. The park service later stated that operations for the remaining three had shifted from search and rescue to recovery.
The Latvian Mountaineering Association identified the deceased as Inese Pučeka, Vija Olte and Renārs Kunigs-Salaks. The injured climber, Mārtiņš Bilzēns, was evacuated in critical condition. The park service typically withholds fatality details until 72 hours after next of kin are notified.
Mount McKinley's climbing season runs from late April to mid-July, and accidents remain common on the peak despite extensive safety guidelines from the National Park Service.
