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In a tragic incident, four Mexican citizens lost their lives in a climbing accident on Pico de Orizaba, Mexico’s highest mountain. The civil defense office located in the central state of Puebla confirmed the fatalities, revealing that all four individuals appeared to have suffered fatal falls on the volcanic mountain.
The majestic Pico de Orizaba rises to a height of 18,619 feet (5,675 meters), also known by its native name, Citlaltepetl.
The victims’ identities were revealed as those of two climbers from the neighboring state of Veracruz and at least one from the state of Puebla, as the mountain’s peak is situated on the border between these two states.
Disturbing images distributed by the civil defense office depicted rescue workers engaged in the challenging task of recovering the bodies from a precarious, loose rocky slope below a steeper incline that extended beyond the snow line.
Regrettably, accidents on Pico de Orizaba are not uncommon. Over the years, the mountain has witnessed its share of incidents. Since 2015, both rescuers and climbers have encountered the mummified remains of individuals in the snow, believed to be climbers who perished in a 1959 avalanche.
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Fatalities on Pico de Orizaba in Recent Years
The mountain’s treacherous nature was emphasized in previous years as well. In 2018, a member of the U.S. diplomatic mission tragically lost their life while attempting to climb the mountain. Likewise, in November 2017, an American climber lost their life while seven others were successfully rescued from the same mountain.
This latest incident serves as a poignant reminder of the inherent risks associated with mountaineering, particularly on challenging and high-altitude peaks like Pico de Orizaba.
Source: ABC
