THE accident that killed 11 climbers on K2 over the weekend may have also scuttled the chances of a Singaporean team hoping to reach the mountain's summit.

The deadly ice fall forced Mr Edwin Siew and Dr Robert Goh - along with other climbers - to retreat 2,000m down the mountain to base camp.

With high winds and sleet forecast for later this week, the pair face a shrinking window to reach the world's second-highest peak.

'We have to really weigh the pros and cons before making a final decision,' Dr Goh told the Straits Times via a satellite phone.

He also added that morale among the climbers remaining on the mountain is low.

According to the Straits Times report, Dr Goh, 42, estimated that three-quarters of the mountaineers at the base camp will be leaving for home and that there would only be three small teams left after three to four days, including the one from Singapore.

'We cannot be foolhardy to think three small teams can conquer K2,' he said