KATHMANDU - The Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu said Thursday that two bodies found on a mountain in central Nepal earlier this month were those of two missing Japanese alpinists.
Police and other sources have identified the pair as Hidesuke Taneishi, 40, and Tetsu Hashimoto, 25. Contact was lost after they reported on Oct. 15 that they had reached 7,050 meters in elevation on the 7,140-meter western peak of Mt. Gangapurna, the sources said.
A subsequent helicopter search undertaken by authorities led to the discovery of two bodies at a point 6,300 meters in elevation on the south side of the mountain. From there, the bodies were transported to a hospital in the capital.
The embassy confirmed the bodies as those of the Japanese nationals on Monday, an embassy official said, adding, "We will do our utmost to assist the bereaved families while keeping in contact with them."
According to the sources, Taneishi and Hashimoto had been accompanied by a Nepalese mountain guide until 4,900 meters in elevation, at which point they started climbing on their own.
