A Pakistan army helicopter has begun airlifting survivors from the slopes of K2 after an accident.
At least 11 climbers are now known to have died in an ice fall near the top of the world's second highest mountain.
37-year-old Irishman Gerard McDonnell is among those believed to have died.
The rescue operation is now being wound down, but a plane is on stand-by to fly over the mountain when cloud lifts.
The exact number of missing climbers is still unclear but at least 11 are understood to have died on K2 and more are still classified as missing.
They reached the summit of K2 on Friday and have now been four days in the area known as 'death zone'.
Mr McDonnell family in Limerick say they are proud of his many heroic and brave achievements and are trying to come to terms with the news he will not be returning home.
Mr McDonnell's brother and partner are expected to fly to Islamabad in the coming days.
