“Perdidos”: el último mensaje de tres montañistas desaparecidos en el Huascarán

A tragedy has put Áncash and the entire country on alert. Three Peruvian mountaineers have been missing since Monday on their ascent of Huascarán, a mountain over 6,000 meters above sea level, while their families denounce serious logistical failures and a lack of timely support from the authorities. The missing climbers have been identified as Artidoro Salas, Freddy Mendoza, and Alejandro Ugarte, known as “Chicho.” All three were part of a mountaineering expedition and were familiar with this type of route. However, last Tuesday at 10:15 a.m., Alejandro sent a message to his girlfriend that triggered widespread concern: “Lost.” Since then, worry has grown among their families, who maintain that valuable time was lost during the initial hours of the rescue operation. According to reports, the helicopter initially assigned by the National Police was inoperable, and it was later reported that the aircraft could only reach 4,000 meters above sea level, even though the mountaineers were believed to be at approximately 6,000 meters. “We are truly losing hope because we have no support,” said one of the family members, who desperately pleaded for help in locating her loved one. She also indicated that, given the lack of an effective response, they have sought private assistance from rescuers and mountain guides, whose services could cost around S/200,000. Artidoro Salas's family also requested the urgent intervention of the authorities, considering the search to be poorly organized. “I want to see my brother again. Authorities, please help me,” pleaded one of his sisters, visibly distressed by the lack of results. NEW AVALANCHE COMPLICATES SEARCH ON THE SNOW-CAPPED MOUNTAIN In the midst of the operation, a second tragedy struck the area. A new avalanche on Thursday, July 16, claimed the life of Ignacio Chinchay and injured Edgar Leveriano, a mountain guide, and Kailash Diagram, a tourist from India, who are fighting for their lives after the accident. Operational difficulties, adverse weather, and a lack of adequate equipment are complicating the search for Alejandro Ugarte, Freddy Mendoza, and Artidoro Salas. Their families remain hopeful of finding them alive and are demanding immediate action from the government, especially given the lack of helicopters capable of operating at high altitudes on one of the country's most important mountains. #Huascarán #MissingMountaineers #HuascaránMountain #HuascaránRescue #ArtidoroSalas #FreddyMendoza #AlejandroUgarte #HuascaránAvalanche #Áncash #HuascaránTragedy