KATHMANDU:  At least 12 climbers successfully reached the top of the world’s fourth highest mountain this morning.

Gyanendra Shrestha, a liaison officer at the Everest base camp, told THT that at least seven members and five rope-fixing Sherpa climbers stood atop Mt Lhotse becoming the season’s first team to scale the 8,516-metre peak at 9:47 am.

Kili Pemba Sherpa and Tamting Sherpa from Rolwaling, Pemba Chote Sherpa and Ang Jangbu Sherpa from Thame, as well as Dendi Sherpa from Solukhumbu opened the climbing route to Mt Lhotse summit, Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, Chairman at Imagine Nepal Treks, told THT from the base camp.

Other members of the expedition who scaled the mountain include Gao Li and Li Xiaolin from China, Christina Flampouri and Antonios Sykaris from Greece, and Sirbaz Khan from Pakistan. Dawa Gyalje Sherpa and Dawa Tenji Sherpa also successfully climbed Mt Lhotse guiding the world climbers, Sherpa added.

Christina became the first woman climber from Greece to scale Mt Lhotse while Khan became the first Pakistani climber to stand atop the world’s fourth highest peak, according to Shrestha.

According to the Department of Tourism, over 92 climbers from 10 different teams have obtained climbing permits for Mt Lhotse this spring season.

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