Climbing catastrophe on K-2 claims 9

At least nine climbers have perished on K-2, the world's second highest peak, in Pakistan in one of the blackest days of mountaineering's, and the toll could rise, expedition organizers said yesterday.

Those confirmed dead included three South Koreans and two Nepalese, along with Serbian, Norwegian, Dutch and French climbers.

Unconfirmed reports said one Pakistani had died and several foreign and local climbers were unaccounted for.