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Friday, February 5, 2010

Climbers Rescued in Papua After Calling Beijing for Help

Jakarta Globe, February 05, 2010

Papua's Puncak Jaya. (Wikimedia Photo/Alfindra Primaldhi)

Seven Chinese hikers have been rescued after reportedly being abandoned by their guides on a descent from Indonesia’s tallest mountain.

The climbers were returning to their camp from Puncak Jaya peak, also known as Mount Carstensz, in Papua province when they had a falling-out with the guides for unknown reasons, according to Chinese state news site cctv.com.

The climbers called Beijing on a satellite phone to say they had been left on their own and their food supply was running low. Local law enforcement officers ‘went all out’ to find the group, according to the website.

The group reportedly included a former coach of the Chinese Mountaineering Team and at least two members of the media.

Standing more than 5000 meters tall, Puncak Jaya is known as a demanding climb requiring some basic rock-climbing skills. It is surrounded by rainforest, and most organized expeditions allow four or five days of hiking merely to reach the mountain from the nearest settled area.

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