A Kenyan mountaineer, Cheruiyot Kirui, and his guide have gone missing during their ascent of Mt. Everest in an expedition organized by Seven Summit Treks (SST) based in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The two lost contact with their team while attempting to scale the treacherous Bishop Rock at 8,000 meters.

SST Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mingma Sherpa said Kirui and Nawang embarked on their climb without supplemental oxygen, a daring endeavor even for seasoned climbers.

“Kirui, a banker with KCB, and his Sherpa guide Nawang were last in communication at Bishop Rock,” Mingma Sherpa informed local authorities. “Kirui exhibited abnormal behavior with his guide before communication ceased.”

SST mobilized a search and rescue mission to locate the missing climber. Two Sherpa rescuers were dispatched to scour the treacherous terrain above the balcony area in hopes of locating Kirui and Nawang.

 Despite the challenges posed by the mountain’s extreme altitude and unpredictable weather conditions, the search party remains undeterred in its efforts to bring the climbers to safety.

As search and rescue operations intensify, the global mountaineering community remains on edge, hoping for a swift and safe resolution to the unfolding crisis on the world’s most formidable mountain.