(MENAFN) A Filipino mountaineer passed away while trying to reach the peak of Mount Everest, as reported by Nepal’s Department of Tourism on Thursday, according to a local media outlet.

45-year-old Philipp Santiago reached Camp IV visibly exhausted at around 8:00 pm (1415GMT) on Wednesday, but tragically succumbed to exhaustion shortly after. His body was later discovered at the site.

The department stated that Santiago's remains have been left at Camp IV, located at an elevation of 7,900 meters (25,919 feet), due to the extreme conditions and logistical challenges of retrieving it.

It is reported that over 300 deaths have occurred in the Everest region since climbing records were first documented a century ago.

With fatalities increasing, Nepal is considering implementing stricter regulations for Everest expeditions, such as higher permit fees and compulsory experience requirements for climbers.

On April 18, the government introduced the Integrated Tourism Bill to the upper house of the federal parliament, which mandates that any climber aiming to summit Everest must have already successfully climbed a peak higher than 7,000 meters (22,965 feet).

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