NEPAL: Three Climbers Die On Mount Everest

Three climbers died on Everest over the weekend and another is missing, officials confirmed Monday, in one of the deadliest episodes on the peak since an avalanche swept through base camp killing 18 two years ago.

More than a dozen climbers have also been rescued from the 8,848 metre (29,030 foot) mountain in the last three days after running into difficulties while attempting to summit, helicopter rescue operators said.

The three deaths over the weekend bring the toll to five so far this season, which has been hit by unpredictable weather, strong winds and unusually cold temperatures.

Slovak climber Vladamir Strba was found dead on Everest on Sunday, a few hundred metres from the summit, Kamal Parajuli of Nepal's Tourism Department confirmed.

He was above the 8,000 metre mark known as the mountain's "death zone" when he died, an area that also claimed the life of American climber Roland Yearwood.

The death zone is notorious for its difficult terrain and thin air, where low levels of oxygen heighten the risk of altitude sickness.

An Australian climber died on the Tibet side of the mountain, local media reported, quoting the Tibet Mountaineering Association.

The 54-year-old from Queensland was reportedly hit by altitude sickness after reaching 7,500 metres and died as he was trying to descend.

A forth climber has been missing since Saturday when he lost contact shortly after reaching the summit. His Nepali guide was found unconscious at Camp 4, just below 8,000 metres, with severe frostbite.

A search operation in underway for the climber, who is from India's northern Uttar Pradesh state, but authorities at base camp were unable to contact the rescue team on Monday morning.

Other deaths this season include that of legendary Swiss climber Ueli Steck in late April while on an acclimatization climb, and 85-year-old Min Bahadur Sherchan who perished attempting to reclaim his title as the world's oldest person to summit Everest.

More than 120 climbers have successfully summited Everest from the south side so far this season with another 80 reaching the peak from the Tibet side.

Hundred of climbers are still waiting to summit before the monsoon arrives in early June, which marks the end of the short spring climbing season.

Last year Everest claimed the lives of five climbers, while a total of 640 people summited from both sides of the mountain.