エベレスト、中国側からの入山許可無効に　新型ウイルスで

【カトマンズＡＦＰ＝時事】中国当局は、春の登山シーズンを前にした世界最高峰エベレストの入山許可を、新型コロナウイルスを理由に取り消した。登山を専門とする複数の旅行会社が12日、明らかにした。（写真はエベレスト〈中央〉とヒマラヤ山脈）
　昨年の春の登山シーズンには大勢が詰め掛け、ネパール側から６４４人、中国チベット自治区の北側から２４１人と、過去最多の計８８５人が登頂した。
　ネパール側は今のところ開放されたままだが、キャンセルを受けている会社もある他、登山者らには過去１４日間の滞在先の申告と健康診断書の提出が求められている。
　中国当局から北側の閉鎖の連絡を受けたという登山会社は、利用者１１人をネパール側に移動させる予定だと明かした。地元観光局によると、チベット内の観光地区は１月以降閉鎖されているという。
　エベレストには毎年春になると、世界中から何百人もの登山客が訪れ、好天が期待できる４月後半から５月末にかけては、登頂を目指す人が特に増える。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/03/13-12:53）

China has cancelled permits for Mount Everest because of the coronavirus, expedition organisers said Thursday, ahead of the spring climbing season on the world's highest peak.
Last year's traffic-clogged spring window saw a record 885 people summit Everest, 644 of them from Nepal and 241 from the northern flank in Tibet.
The Nepal side remains open for now although some expedition operators have seen cancellations and climbers have been asked to submit a 14-day travel history and medical reports.
The Chinese authorities have informed us that the mountain will close from the north side, Lukas Furtenbach of Austria-based Furtenbach Adventures told AFP.
Furtenbach said that he will be shifting his 11 clients to Nepal.
Tourist areas in Tibet have been closed since January, according to the local tourism office. The China Tibet Mountaineering Association, which issues permits for Everest, was not reachable.
Another company, Alpenglow Expeditions, has cancelled its Everest plans.
I am in agreement with China's decision. It is responsible... Climbing a mountain is not currently worth the transmission risk in the Base Camps, nor upon returning home, Adrian Ballinger of Alpenglow Expeditions said in a statement Wednesday.
Some companies in Nepal have also seen cancellations.
We had bookings from 23 climbers, but two groups have already cancelled. We might have just 8 to 10 climbers this year, said Pasang Tenje Sherpa of Pioneer Adventure.
A Nepali team, specialised in fixing the climbing route, is currently on its way to the base camp to begin fixing ropes on Everest.
Everest attracts hundreds of mountaineers from all over the world each spring, when a window of good weather opens up between late April and the end of May, prompting a rush for the summit.
Nepal has so far seen only one confirmed case of the coronavirus.
It has suspended visas on arrival for visitors from eight countries badly hit, meaning they have to apply beforehand and submit a health certificate.