GILGIT, Aug 18: Four Russian climbers are feared dead after being swept away by an avalanche on the world’s second highest mountain K2, Pakistani officials and their tour operator said on Friday.

Pakistani rescuers had been unable to reach the stricken mountaineers on the giant Himalayan peak since they were hit by the wall of snow on Aug 13, they said.

“There has been no trace of them since,” said Neknam, an official of private tour operator Adventure Tours Pakistan said.

“The deputy leader of the 13-member expedition has informed us that the rest of the team are returning to Skardu as there is no hope for the four missing climbers,” added Neknam, who uses only one name.

They would file a death report in Skardu, the town used as a base for climbers attempting a host of massive peaks in the Himalayan region.

Bad weather has prevented helicopters from making a rescue attempt on the treacherous 8,611-meter (28,250-foot) peak, the second tallest in the world after Mount Everest.

“We tried many times to find them alive but efforts were hindered either because of inclement weather or other obstacles,” Skardu administrator Zarq Mirza said. Mr Mirza said the chances of the climbers being found alive were “out of the question”.—AFP