German climber Jost Kobusch is safely back in Lobuche after surviving a 7.1 earthquake on Mount Everest. The quake struck while he was at Camp 1, midway between the Khumbu Glacier and the Lho La, at around 6:50 am Nepal time.
Kobusch, who is climbing the West Ridge of Everest alone without supplementary oxygen in winter, described the experience as “like a major explosion” with seracs coming down and avalanches roaring. He felt shockwaves hit his tent and particles from nearby avalanches pierced it. After waiting for two hours, he decided to descend as fast as possible.
Kobusch has previously survived a giant quake on Everest in 2015, when a massive avalanche killed 22 people at Base Camp. However, this time he was alone on the mountain, and the experience was different. He expressed relief that he had been in his tent, which provided safety during the earthquake.
Despite being shaken, Kobusch confirmed he did not sustain any injuries from the quake. However, he acknowledges the risk of aftershocks, landslides, and avalanches in the Khumbu Valley for the next several days. He plans to assess his situation before making a decision on what to do next.
This earthquake marks an eventful season for Kobusch, who recently climbed over 7,500m on Everest’s West Ridge in winter, becoming the first person to reach that altitude without oxygen.
Source: https://explorersweb.com/exclusive-jost-kobusch-survives-everest-earthquake-shaken-but-fine