Langtang Lirung Tragedy. An eight-member Japanese expedition from Hosei University in Tokyo attempting Langtang Lirung via the southeast ridge ended in tragedy. On March 29, four climbers ascending to Camp I at 5600 meters were struck by a huge avalanche at 4900 meters and carried down 600 meters. Noruo Matsumoto was miraculously able to free himself from the debris and was not even injured. The three others were killed. The survivors and two Sherpas seached for them, finding the bodies of Noriyuki Futami and Yasuhisa Kuwashina. The body of Masahiro Hisamoto could not be found.