China issues safety alerts for citizens in Australia after two Chinese women found dead huddled on Victoria’s Mount Bogong

Chinese authorities have issued safety alerts for their citizens in Australia following the deaths of two more Chinese nationals during a hiking trip.

The two women were found huddled together on Mount Bogong, in Victoria’s alpine region, about 1pm last Friday.

Victoria Police said the women, believed to be in their 20s or 30s and from overseas, had yet to be formally identified.

They have since been confirmed as Chinese nationals, the Chinese Consulate-General in Melbourne told Xinhua News Agency.

In a statement to Chinese citizens, the consulate warned about extreme weather conditions in Australia’s mountainous regions and reminded travellers to carry necessary survival equipment.

“Recently, in the consular district of our Consulate, which includes Victoria and Tasmania, tragic accidents have occurred in which Chinese citizens lost their lives while hiking or mountain climbing outdoors,” the consulate said in a translated statement on Tuesday.

“These incidents were caused by sudden extreme weather and a lack of necessary survival equipment. We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate deaths of these Chinese citizens.

“The Chinese Consulate-General in Melbourne once again solemnly reminds Chinese citizens in the consular district that safety must be the top priority when traveling abroad.

“Please do not blindly follow trends or engage in high-risk activities that exceed your personal capabilities, in order to avoid unnecessary safety risks.”

Grim discovery

The women were found by two fellow hikers at Lendenfeld Point, near the Cleve Cole Hut, a shelter for trekkers.

Keith Jackson from the Mt Bogong Mountaineering Club said the hikers were returning to their car after a day on the mountain when they came across the women’s gear.

“They are both medical doctors, so they knew the deceased were indeed deceased,” he told 7NEWS.

Police believe the pair were trying to survive extreme weather but succumbed to hypothermia after being caught in “blizzard conditions”.

“The wind is such that it will literally blow you over,” Jackson said.

“It’s a pretty brutal environment, if things go wrong it will kill you.”

Temperatures dropped to -2.8C during those days and felt as low as -11C at night, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Inspector Paul Hargreaves said the bodies may have been at the location for two to three days before being discovered.

Recovery was delayed until the next day due to extreme weather, with helicopters used to retrieve the bodies on Saturday morning.

Their deaths are not considered suspicious.

Repeated tragedy from Tasmania

A week earlier, another Chinese woman died while hiking unprepared for extreme weather.

She was part of a group of four tourists in Cradle Mountain National Park in Tasmania on September 26 when they struggled in cold conditions.

Rescuers camped with the group overnight and helped them back the following morning.

One woman was confirmed dead, while the others were unharmed.

“Unfortunately, they were not prepared for bushwalking and found themselves overwhelmed by the extreme weather conditions,” Tasmania Police Inspector Steve Jones said.

Tips for cold-weather hiking

According to Australian Hiker, staying safe and comfortable on a cold-weather hike requires careful planning, including checking the forecast and choosing sheltered routes.

Hikers should layer clothing to regulate body temperature, wear gloves and headwear, keep moving to generate warmth, and eat and drink regularly to maintain energy.

It’s also essential to keep gear dry, especially sleeping equipment, to avoid getting chilled.