A tragic mountaineering incident on Aoraki, New Zealand’s highest peak, has claimed the lives of two climbers, while two others from the same group were successfully rescued, authorities confirmed on Tuesday. The bodies of the deceased climbers were located in a challenging alpine environment, and specialized teams are working to recover them. Police Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker stated that none of the climbers have been publicly identified at this time. According to Sgt. Kevin McErlain of The Timaru Herald, the two climbers who perished were roped together when they fell near the summit of Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook. The authorities were alerted late Monday night local time about the distress of four climbers on the mountain, located on New Zealand’s South Island. A helicopter rescue operation was launched in the early hours of Tuesday morning, successfully retrieving the two survivors, who were unharmed. Search teams in two helicopters scoured the area throughout the night, eventually locating the bodies of the other two climbers hours later. Aoraki, standing at 3,724 meters (12,218 feet), is part of the Southern Alps, a majestic yet treacherous mountain range that spans the length of the South Island. The peak is a popular destination for experienced climbers, but its terrain is notoriously challenging due to crevasses, avalanche risks, unpredictable weather, and glacier movements. Since the early 20th century, more than 240 deaths have been recorded on the mountain and in the surrounding national park, with dozens of climbers never found. This incident follows the disappearance of three climbers in December 2024, including two American alpine guides, Kurt Blair and Carlos Romero, whose belongings were discovered, leading authorities to conclude they had fallen to their deaths.