World

2 Climbers Suffering From Hypothermia Await Rescue Off Denali, North America’s Tallest Mountain

Published

5 months ago

2024-05-30

Denali | AP News Image

JUNEAU, Alaska — Two climbers awaited rescue near the summit of North America’s tallest mountain Wednesday, a day after they and a third member of their team requested assistance after summiting Denali during the peak of the climbing season, according to officials at Denali National Park and Preserve.

Their condition was not immediately known. The third climber was rescued late Tuesday. According to park spokesperson Paul Ollig in an email to The Associated Press, all three have expertise in climbing high-elevation foreign peaks, and two had previously climbed Denali.

Denali | Fox 9 News Image

2 Climbers Suffering From Hypothermia Await Rescue Off Denali, North America’s Tallest Mountain

At 1 a.m. Tuesday, park authorities received an SOS message from the three climbers, suggesting that they were hypothermic and unable to descend after reaching the 20,310-foot (6,190-meter) peak.

According to a park service statement, they communicated until around 3:30 a.m., when they texted intentions to descend to a flat region known as the “Football Field” at around 19,600 feet (5,974 meters).

Rangers did not hear from the climbers after that, and the location of their satellite communication device remained the same. The park’s high-altitude helicopter could not fly almost 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Talkeetna to Denali Tuesday morning due to cloud cover, so the park requested assistance from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center. The Alaska Air National Guard dispatched an HC-130J aircraft from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage to search for the climbers.

Before noon Tuesday, two climbers were up the mountain between 19,000 and 20,000 feet (5,791 and 6,096 meters). A climbing guide spotted the third climber at around 18,600 feet (5,669 meters).

Conditions eased enough Tuesday evening for the high-altitude chopper to make another try, landing at a climbers’ tent at 14,200 feet (4,328 meters).

Denali | Field Mag

2 Climbers Suffering From Hypothermia Await Rescue Off Denali, North America’s Tallest Mountain

National Park Service mountaineering patrol rangers treated two climbers from another expedition for frostbite. The helicopter team transported the climbers to Talkeetna.

On Tuesday night, a third attempt was made to contact the three climbers who had issued the distress message. According to the park, one of them had dropped to a camp at an elevation of 17,200 feet (5,243 meters) and was suffering from severe frostbite and hypothermia. The climber, who received assistance from a guided party until a park service crew came, was airlifted from the mountain and eventually transported from Talkeetna.

According to the park service, an experienced expedition guide on the top mountain helped the other two climbers at the “Football Field,” but was obliged to descend to the 17,200-foot (5,243-meter) high camp for safety reasons when clouds returned.

Rescuers could not reach the two climbers Wednesday due to cloud cover and strong winds. Park service officers waited for conditions to improve before making any further attempts.

According to Ollig, the park spokesperson, it is unknown how much survival equipment the two climbers have, but “it is likely minimal.”

2 Climbers Suffering From Hypothermia Await Rescue Off Denali, North America’s Tallest Mountain

“Typically, on a summit day teams will often go up lighter, with more limited survival gear, so they can move faster,” he explained.

While this is “certainly a dramatic rescue operation, it is not necessarily out of the ordinary.”

Currently, 506 climbers aim to summit Denali, and the park service says Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the busiest two weeks of the climbing season.

Another 117 climbers have finished their attempts to ascend the summit. Of those, 17 made it to the peak.

Denali National Park and Preserve is approximately 240 miles (386 kilometers) north of Anchorage.

SOURCE – (AP)

Kiara Grace

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics. Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

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World

NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams Health Deteriorates on Space Station

Published

7 mins ago

2024-11-09

Geoff Thomas

NASA is cautiously monitoring astronaut Sunita Williams' health.

NASA is cautiously monitoring astronaut Sunita Williams’ health. She has lost significant weight during her extended stay aboard the International Space Station with colleague astronaut Buth Wilmore.

Recent photographs have shown her in a thin state, prompting concerns about the physical toll of prolonged space travel. Originally slated for an eight-day trip, technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spaceship have stretched Williams’ stay to more than 150 days.

Sunita Williams, who has frequently regarded space as her second home and expressed no reservations about the extended stay following the Boeing Starliner’s solo return, is now displaying symptoms of significant weight loss.

NASA officials, who are closely connected with the mission, have expressed concern over her condition, describing her as having “lost a lot of weight” with sunken cheeks.

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is trapped on the International Space Station (ISS).

According to a NASA staffer familiar with the situation, she has become skin and bones. “It’s a priority now to stabilise her weight and hopefully reverse this drastic change,” they said, according to the Washington Post.

Williams began her space voyage weighing approximately 140 pounds. However, as the journey progressed, she struggled to satisfy the high-calorie requirements for maintaining her weight.

“They have to eat between 3,500 and 4,000 calories per day just to maintain their current weight,” the staffer told the site. “And when you start falling behind, your weight drops fast.”

The worker explained how the situation worsens because astronauts must work out more than two hours daily to keep their muscles and bones strong in space, which burns more calories.

NASA physicians began addressing Williams’ weight loss a month before viral photographs sparked concerns.

Studies have shown that female astronauts lose muscle mass faster than male astronauts due to metabolic changes during space travel.

Following early concerns raised by a doctor, who stated that Williams appeared to be experiencing “the natural stresses of living at a very high altitude, even in a pressurised cabin for extended periods,” a NASA representative reassured.

The representative noted, “All NASA astronauts on the International Space Station receive routine medical examinations. “They have dedicated flight surgeons monitoring them and are in good health.

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Geoff Thomas

Geoffrey Thomas is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills and deep understanding of SEO, he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Thomas' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.

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World

Australia to Ban Children Under 16 from Social Media

Published

2 days ago

2024-11-07

Geoff Thomas

Australia to Ban Children Under 16 from Social Media

The Australian Government says it had consulted with social media companies on the age limits “through a variety of means”

To safeguard the mental health of young people, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared that children under 16 will be prohibited from using social media. The corporations involved will be obligated to enforce the new regulations or risk incurring penalties.

On Thursday, Albanese told reporters in Canberra, “Social media is causing harm to our children, and I am putting an end to it.” Later this month, she plans to introduce legislation.

“It will be the responsibility of social media platforms to demonstrate that they are taking reasonable measures to prevent access.” Parents and adolescents will not be accountable. Users will not be subject to any penalties.

Albanese’s center-left Labor government has implemented a series of measures to address the issue of technology titans, which the prime minister attributes to a rise in mental health issues and misinformation. One of these measures is the long-awaited age limit.

Australia has a history of challenging large technology companies that operate social media platforms, such as a 2021 initiative to compel Facebook and Google to pay for news content.

X, which billionaire Elon Musk owns, was recently taken to court by the government for failing to remove a recording of a terrorist attack in Sydney. It has also imposed a fine on the company for neglecting to remove content that depicts child sexual abuse.

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Geoff Thomas

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World

Felipe VI of Spain Pelted with Mud By Angry Protesters

Published

6 days ago

2024-11-04

Geoff Thomas

Demonstrators threw mud and objects, which made it difficult for bodyguards to protect the monarch.

Angry protesters pelted Felipe VI of Spain with mud and other objects during a visit to flood-hit Valencia. Spain’s national broadcaster reported that two bodyguards were treated for injuries.

Felipe VI of Spain and Queen Letizia, Spain’s prime minister, and other leaders were met with shouts of “murderer” and “shame” as they traversed the town of Paiporta, which is one of the most severely afflicted in the region.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia were later observed offering comfort to individuals in the throng despite being covered in mud on their faces and clothing.

The floods, which were the most severe in Spain in decades, resulted in the deaths of over 200 individuals. In the hopes of locating survivors and recovering corpses, emergency personnel are still working to search underground car parks and tunnels.

In response to the floods, there has been a wave of resentment toward the authorities for their perceived failure to provide adequate support and warning.

The king was observed walking down a pedestrian street when a sudden surge of demonstrators who hurled insults and screamed, causing his bodyguards and police to be immediately overwhelmed.

Some of the demonstrators threw mud and objects, which made it difficult for them to maintain a protective ring around the monarch.

Angry flood survivors hurl mud and insults at Spain’s King Felipe VI during Valencia visit.

Felipe VI of Spain Greets Mob

Images depicted the king, queen, and entourage, who held canopies over the monarch as they departed, with mud on their faces and clothing.

During the visit, the royal couple was accompanied by Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the president of the Valencian regional government, Carlos Mazón. However, they were promptly evacuated as the crowd became increasingly hostile.

The BBC has verified footage that appears to depict stones being thrown at Sánchez’s vehicle as he was driven away, while Spanish media reports that objects were hurled at him.

The audience chanted, “Where is Sánchez?” after he departed.

“I am only 16,” Pau said, his eyes welling with tears. “We are assisting, but the leaders are not acting.” People are still dying. I am unable to endure this any longer.

Another woman stated, “They abandoned us to our deaths.” We have forfeited everything: our homes, enterprises, and aspirations.

A subsequent observation revealed that the civil guard and mounted officers endeavored to disperse the irate throng.

People clean mud from a shop affected by floods in Valencia, Spain.

Severe Flooding in Valencia province

The royal entourage intended to continue their journey to Chiva, another community in the Valencia province severely affected by the flooding. However, this visit has been postponed.

In a subsequent video on the royal household’s Instagram account, the monarch expressed his comprehension of the protestors’ “angry and frustration.”

Maribel Albalat, the mayor of Paiporta, said that she was astonished by the violence but also acknowledged the “frustration and desperation of the people.”

Juan Bordera, a Valencian parliamentarian, characterized the king’s visit as “an extremely poor decision.”

Mr. Bordera told the BBC authorities “didn’t heed any warnings.”

“It is logical that the people are angry, and it is logical that the people did not comprehend the urgency of this visit,” he continued.

Sánchez directed the deployment of 10,000 additional police officers, civil guards, and soldiers to the region on Saturday.

He stated that the deployment was the highest in Spain’s history during peacetime. However, he also acknowledged that the response was “insufficient” and that there were “severe issues and shortages.”

Spain searches for bodies after unprecedented flooding claims at least 200 lives.

Over 200 Killed in Flooding

The inundation began on Tuesday following a period of heavy rainfall. Floodwaters caused bridges to collapse and cities to be engulfed in a thick layer of mud. Numerous communities lacked water, electricity, food, and other fundamental services.

The mortality toll from the flooding reached 217 on Sunday, and it is believed that many more individuals are still missing.

The Valencia region on the Mediterranean coast has been the site of nearly all of the confirmed fatalities thus far.

Certain regions have been particularly devastated. Today, the royal delegation visited Paiporta, a municipality where authorities have reported a minimum of 62 fatalities.

On Sunday, the Spanish meteorological agency AEMET issued the maximum alert level for certain areas of southern Valencia, including Alzira, Cullera, and Gandia.

The agency warned that the intensity of the cyclones expected to pass through the region will not be comparable to Tuesday’s. It anticipates a total of 90mm (3.45 inches) of precipitation.