U.S. climber Anna Gutu and her guide die in Tibetan mountain avalanches; 2 missing

Tour companies and Chinese media reported that American mountaineer Anna Gutu and Nepalese guide Mingmar Sherpa died Sunday in avalanches on a Tibetan mountain, while two others were missing.

One of the world's tallest mountains, Mount Shishapangma, is entirely in China at 26,335 feet.

Xinhua reported that the accident occurred Saturday afternoon "at an altitude of between 7,600 and 8,000 meters" and was confirmed by the Tibet Sports Bureau.

Mingma Elite Exped expedition leader David Sherpa told AFP that American mountaineer Anna Gutu had died.

Seven Summit Treks' Tashi Sherpa identified the missing as American climber Gina Marie Rzucidlo and her guide Tenjin "Lama" Sherpa.

The mountain had two avalanches yesterday, affecting climbers. American climber Gina Marie Rzucidlo and our guide Tenjin were injured and missing, he said.

"Search efforts are underway."

State-owned Xinhua News Agency reported that Nepalese mountain guide Karma Geljen Sherpa was seriously injured by the avalanches and is in stable condition after being rescued.

Xinhua reported that 52 climbers from the U.S., Britain, Japan, and Italy were trying to summit the mountain when the avalanches hit.

Xinhua reported that Mount Shishapangma mountaineering is halted.