Renowned Czech female mountaineer Klára Kolouchová died during her expedition on Nanga Parbat (8125m), also known as the “Killer Mountain,” on Thursday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.
Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) Vice-President Karrar Haidri said “We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of renowned Czech mountaineer Klára Kolouchová, aged 46, during her Nanga Parbat expedition.”
Haidri said Klára reportedly fell from a height between Camp I and Camp II, possibly due to an oxygen cylinder explosion. The incident occurred around 4:00 am near Bunar Base Camp in Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan.
Authorities and rescue teams were immediately alerted and dispatched. Efforts were underway to locate and retrieve her body from the fall site.
Chilas: Renowned Czech mountaineer Klára Kolouchová, aged 46, tragically lost her life while attempting to summit Nanga Parbat, Pakistan’s ninth-highest peak, after reportedly falling from a high altitude due to an oxygen gas cylinder explosion.
— PAMIR TIMES (@pamirtimes) July 3, 2025
According to Diamer’s Additional… pic.twitter.com/JlotNIPkxk
Klára was an accomplished mountaineer, globally recognized as the first Czech woman to summit both Everest and K2. She arrived in Pakistan on June 15 and was accompanied by her husband and five team members.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and the mountaineering community during this difficult time,” Haidri added.
According to explorersweb.com, on the lower slopes of Nanga Parbat, well below those going for the summit, Klara Kolouchova has died in an accident.
“Her teammates later confirmed her death after reaching Base Camp, though the body remains at the fall site,” Diamir’s Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Nizamuddin told The Pamir Times.
Klára Kolouchová, the Czech mountaineer died on Nanga Parbat today. The tragic accident took place between camp 1 & 2 of Nanga Parbat when she fell off the ridge after her oxygen cylinder exploded.
— The Northern Off-roader from Das e Basi Resort (@TheOffroader1) July 3, 2025
She was scaling Nanga Parbat from Diamer face.
Klara was 46, already having… pic.twitter.com/MwweqEgCBL
Kolouchova was on Nanga Parbat with her husband and five other climbing partners. They had reached Base Camp on June 17. It is not clear whether they formed an independent group or were part of a larger team.
Climbers on the mountain have reported tough conditions this year because of high temperatures. There is little snow until Camp 3, and climbers have to thread past rocky sections and elsewhere, use the front points of their crampons on bare ice. There have also been several rockfalls.
Kolouchova was a cautious climber who was ready to turn around if conditions were too risky. That is what happened on her first attempt on Nanga Parbat last year. She aborted her attempt shortly after the Kinshofer wall because of weather and snow conditions.
Karrar Haidri confirmed her death and noted that an army helicopter will fly Friday morning to locate and retrieve her body.
Kolouchova, 46, was the first Czech female climber to summit the world’s three highest peaks (Everest, K2, and Kangchenjunga). She had previously climbed Cho Oyu and, in 2024, added Annapurna to her successful 8,000m list. This past spring, she attempted Dhaulagiri. She was a mother of two.
Reporter Samiullah