Division Among Climbers Blamed for Death

The division of Bulgaria's Everest alpinists into factions was blamed again for the death of the expedition's youngest member Hristo Hristov.

It is not unusual for sportsmen to split into groups and this might have led to the death of Hristo Hristov, Sports Minister Vassil Ivanov told private TV channel bTV.

He specified that the ministry has funded the expedition but has not interfered with the training of the alpinists.

He vowed to do his best for their reconciliation.

Numerous mistakes have led to the tragic incident on Everest, according to Petko Totev, who conquered the 8,848-metre summit May 18.

In his words the tactics for the expedition has been poorly discussed before Sofia departure and this is the reason why the expedition members stormed the peak individually.

The head of the expedition Metodi Savov branded the accusations as "exaggerated".

The death of Hristov, 26, provoked an uproar among alpinists in Bulgaria, some of whom blamed it on the indifference and passivity by other members of the expedition. The eight alpinists from the expedition landed at Sofia Airport June 1 amid joy, overshadowed by the grief, hostility and squabbles.

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