Khan Tengri Tragedy. On July 23, a number of teams occupied camp in the 6000-meter col between Pik Chapayeva and Khan Tengri: Ukrainians, Russians, Poles, Kazakhs, Hungarians, Koreans, Japanese. A severe snowstorm began. At 4:45 A.M. on July 25, an avalanche covered the camp. Poles cut through their tent to get to the outside and began to free others from the snow. In three tents, four people were dead: two Ukrainian guides and two other Poles. Those in snow caves all survived although in at least one the entrance was closed and when it was opened, the sleeping climbers were in bad condition because of the lack of air. Bad weather continued and the descent was dangerous.

Józef Nyka, Editor, Taternik, Poland