Three Climbers Missing on New Zealand's Aoraki Mountain

Search efforts for two Americans and a Canadian are delayed due to severe weather, with authorities fearing a fatal fall near the summit.

Kurt Blair, 56, and Carlos Romero, 50, both certified alpine guides from the U.S., and an unidentified Canadian climber were reported missing on Monday after failing to meet their scheduled return flight.
The trio began their ascent of Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook, on Saturday via the challenging Zurbriggen Ridge route, known for its technical difficulty and avalanche risks.
Searchers found climbing equipment believed to belong to the climbers, but no further signs of the men have been discovered so far.
Adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain and snow, have forced search and rescue operations to pause until at least Thursday.
Authorities are working with U.S. and Canadian embassies to notify and support the climbers' families, with grave concerns expressed about their fate.