Durban/Johannesburg - The families of mountain climbers from Kloof who survived an avalanche on Mount Everest after the quake say they are “anxious” but grateful that their loved ones are safe.
This as the death toll of the devastating earthquake in Nepal reached more than 2 500 on Sunday, the lives of South Africans known to have been caught in the chaos had been spared.
The 7.9 quake that rocked Nepal on Saturday has left the country in disarray as authorities continue to try to assist those affected by the catastrophe.
Kloof resident Rob Bentley and Newcastle businessman Nico Oosthuizen are part of the South African expedition team to Mount Everest led by Umdloti adventurer Sean Wisedale.
The team, which includes Johannesburg climbers Marlette Hegyi and Wilmien van der Merwe, were at Mount Everest base camp when the earthquake and avalanche hit on Saturday.
Wisedale’s wife, Katherine, said her husband had spoken to her by satellite phone on Sunday morning.
She said he told her that they were trying to help the other climbers who had been injured.
“They are safe. But we (the families) are all a little bit anxious because there have been aftershocks and tremors.”
She added that the team had been “very lucky” because their camp had not been in the direct line of the avalanche.
Bentley’s mother, Trudy, said her son had called home using a satellite phone on Saturday.
“The line was not very clear. He has had a terrible experience.”
Trudy said her son was “adventurous” and had sailed the world with his family for four years, and had climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.
She did not know when they would come down from base camp.
“It is devastating having your son on a mountain and you do not know what is happening. I sit all day watching the news.”
On Bentley’s blog, his wife, Belinda, posted a comment on Sunday.
“Rob called on Sunday on satellite phone. He sounded drained and shocked, but alive. Communication is very difficult and the team are staying to assist with the injured and to regroup before any decisions are made.”
On his blog, Wisedale said the experience was “terrifying” and the team were thankful to be safe.
“Even now there are still small aftershocks going off around us. We are unsure of what we should do – leave or stay – we haven’t made that decision yet.”
Wisedale said the “mountains and glaciers shook” when the earthquake hit.
“An avalanche was triggered. A massive ice slab sheared and thundered into Base Camp. It lifted rocks and boulders ahead of it, slamming into hundreds of tents in the centre of the camp.
“
We all dived into our safest and most shielded tents. The horror was unimaginable.”
Wisedale said they had given their medical supplies to the medical staff present who were assisting the wounded.
The Mercury was unable to contact Oosthuizen’s family on Sunday.
Simon’s Town newlyweds Ronnie and Elizabeth Muhl were reunited on Sunday after being separated on Mount Everest only hours before the earthquake.
They were members of the Adventures Global team, which also included Cape Town doctor Donna McTaggart.
Last night Ronnie finally made contact with the South African base to confirm they were all safe.
South African Errol Goodman was visiting Kathmandu at the time of the disaster. His wife, Candice, said she first heard that he was safe at about 10.30am on Saturday morning, after he sent her a text message.
However, in subsequent written communications, it became clear that the authorities were struggling to handle the building collapses and foreigners’ attempts to return to their home countries.
“He said the authorities just weren’t ready for this,” said Candice. She was unable to get hold of Errol for four hours on Sunday morning, but was relieved later when her husband told her that he had managed to secure a flight to Dubai, which was set to take off last night.
“I knew he was going to be okay,” said Candice. “He’s equipped to handle these situations.” She said Errol had told her: “If I’m not worried, why should you be?”
It was also reported that eight Pretoria St Mary’s Diocesan schoolgirls visiting Nepal were safe. Initial posts on social media had asked users to pray for the girls’ safety, but the school’s Facebook page confirmed all of the girls were safe and accounted for.
Department of International Relations and Co-operation spokesman Clayson Monyela said that while he could not give exact figures on the number of South Africans in Nepal, so far all of those known to the department had been accounted for.
So far, none of the people that had been contacted had requested any assistance in returning home, and the department was not planning to force anyone to return.
President Jacob Zuma has sent his condolences to the country.
“Our thoughts are with the people of Nepal and neighbouring countries. On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, I send my deepest condolences to the government of Nepal and to everyone affected, particularly to the families and friends of those killed and injured,” Zuma said on Sunday.