American climber dies on Mt. Makalu

KATHMANDU, May 5 (Xinhua) -- An American climber attempting to ascend Mount Makalu passed away on Sunday evening in the course of acclimatization, the Department of Tourism said on Monday.

Alexander Pancoe, 39, died at 20:00 while taking a rest at Camp II after descending from Camp III as part of acclimatization.

"The department is coordinating with the concerned agencies to ferry his body to Kathmandu," Liladhar Awasthi, director of the department, said in a statement. Pancoe was one of 77 climbers permitted to climb the world's fifth tallest peak at 8,463 meters.

As many as 1,092 climbers from 73 countries and regions had received permits to summit 26 mountains in Nepal in the spring climbing season which started in April and runs through May. Enditem