Officials begin rescue efforts for stranded climbers on La Paloma glacier

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SANTIAGO.- Andean Search and Rescue Officials (Cuerpo de Socorro Andino) began a rescue mission this morning to retrieve two mountain climbers who have had an accident on the 4,960 meter-high La Paloma Mountain.

According to Julio Bruno, the administrator of Yerba Loca Nature Reserve, the climbers phoned the emergency telephone sometime after 9:30 PM last night. The only information that the individuals managed to relay was: "We are climbers, we had an accident, and we are in the area of La Paloma, on a glacier".

After the call, Bruno contacted police and workers at Andean Search and Rescue, who began their search at 7:00 AM this morning.

According to police reports, a helicopter belonging to the "Disputada de Las Condes" mine flew over the Villa Paulina gorge and sighted the two climbers. The mine helicopter, however, could not rescue the climbers due to the fact that they are in an area that is very difficult to access.

A separate police helicopter was able to drop off search and rescue personnel this morning at an altitude of 4,100 meters on La Paloma so that they could continue the search on foot.

The other rescue option is for a police helicopter to arrive directly at the location in order to retrieve the climbers.