Record 274 Climbers Reach Everest Summit in One Day

A record 274 climbers reached the summit of Mount Everest from Nepal's south side on Wednesday. The previous single-day record of 223 ascents was set in May 2019. Large queues formed in the mountain's death zone, the area above 26,000 feet where oxygen levels are dangerously low.

Photographs showed dozens of climbers waiting in line in full gear. The route reopened on May 13 after specialists cleared a 100-foot ice block that had blocked passage since April. A spokesman from the Nepalese Department of Tourism said a large unstable ice serac in the Khumbu Icefall had been addressed following safety protocols.

Nepal granted nearly 500 climbing permits this year. The climbing window runs from late April to the end of May. British expedition leader Tim Mosedale, who has summited Everest seven times, told The Telegraph that the main reason for the queues is the sheer number of people attempting the climb.

Mosedale said social media has increased interest, with more people seeking content for platforms like Instagram. He also noted that some climbers may be unfit and that additional oxygen tanks increase the workload for Sherpas. An ascent with supplementary oxygen costs between £52,000 and £72,000.

Reports have emerged of guides allegedly poisoning climbers to trigger fake medical emergencies and claim helicopter rescue insurance payouts.