Tragedy on Denali: Three Latvian Climbers Perish in Devastating Fall

Three Latvian climbers fell to their deaths on Mount McKinley in Alaska's Denali National Park, while a fourth team member survived and was rescued, a Latvian climbing organization reported Friday.

The National Park Service stated that four climbers from a seven-member expedition fell on Wednesday near Denali Pass, approximately 2,100 feet below North America's tallest peak. The survivor was rescued Thursday at a mountain basin at 17,200 feet and transported to a hospital.

The search and rescue operation has transitioned to a recovery effort, the National Park Service announced, withholding details about the victims until next-of-kin notifications. The Latvian Mountaineering Association identified the deceased climbers as Inese Puceka, Vija Olte, and Renars Kunigs-Salaks. Climber Mārtiņš Bilzēns is in critical condition. The mountain's name is a point of debate, being officially named Denali in recent years, reversing a prior reversion to McKinley.

(With inputs from agencies.)