site.btaChinese Ambassador Provides Information on Operation to Rescue Missing Bulgarian Mountaineer

Sofia, May 11 (BTA) - Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Zhang Haizhou told a news conference Friday that on May 13, when the weather is expected to improve, a rescue team will look for missing Bulgarian mountaineer Boyan Petrov in Xixabangma beyond camp 3 at an altitude of 7,300 m.

Petrov was reported missing during his ascent of Xixabangma (8,027 m) in the Tibet Autonomous Region, since May 3. His absence was noticed in the region at an altitude of about 7,500 m. The search and rescue operation has been on and off for days due to severe weather conditions.

The Chinese Ambassador said that his country is paying much attention to the incident with Petrov's disappearance. The rescue team is divided into three groups, the first of which comprising 12 persons has already left the base camp at 5,800 m to camp 1 at 6,400 m. On Saturday, seven of them will head to the next camp at 6,800 m. The extreme weather is preventing a rescue operation in the area above 7,300 m at the moment, he explained.

Two helicopters have arrived and are waiting for an improvement in the weather to leave their position at 3,700 m.

The Ambassador also said that China received information about Petrov's disappearance on May 6, and launched a rescue operation on the following day.

Earlier on Friday ,President Rumen Radev conferred with Ambassador Zhang Haizhou, who informed the head of State about the rescue operation's progress, Radev's press secretariat reported.