NAGOYA-Two Japanese were swept to their deaths by an avalanche Sunday while trying to scale Annapurna One in Nepal, officials said.

The bodies of team leader Michio Sato, 43, of Nagoya, and Hideji Nazuka, 49, of Maebashi, were found later Sunday, the Aichi Mountaineering Association here said Monday. Two other Japanese in the party were confirmed safe.

A group led by Sato was ascending the north face of the 8,091-meter Himalayan peak when disaster struck.

The team, attached to safety ropes, had reached a height of about 6,200 meters when the avalanche roared down the mountain around 11 a.m. local time, the association said.

The party had planned to reach the summit between Thursday and Oct. 19.

Nazuka had more than 20 years of climbing experience, having scaled nine of the world's 14 peaks over 8,000 meters. He would have been the first Japanese to conquer 10 of the world's highest peaks.

Nazuka took on the challenge of Annapurna One in 1984 and 1987, but was forced to abandon his efforts. His latest attempt was his first of a peak over 8,000 meters since 2001, when he tried to conquer 8,167-meter Dhaulagiri One.

Nazuka was frustrated by frostbite on that climb.

``If my frostbite injuries have not worsened this time, I will try to conquer the remainder of the 14 peaks as soon as possible,'' Nazuka told the association before setting out.(IHT/Asahi: October 13,2004) (10/13)