An avalanche struck the base camp of the 7,126-meter Himlung Himal peak in Nepal on Sunday. The disaster killed at least two mountain guides and left up to 14 support staff members missing amid severe weather across the region.
Rescuers retrieved the remains of two climbing guides on Monday. They safely evacuated 10 survivors by helicopter to a nearby town. Search efforts continued near the border with Tibet despite heavy snow and harsh weather conditions.
Victims Were Part of Advance Support Team
The victims were part of a team of Nepali support personnel. They were sent ahead of foreign expedition clients to establish camp, fix ropes, and manage routes for the autumn climbing season.
Local officials reported that at least 22 workers were present at the staging camp. The disaster occurred in the Manang district following days of torrential rain and heavy snowfall.
According to the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, the missing group included kitchen staff members and climbing guides from various local expedition companies.
Rescue Operations Hampered by Severe Weather
Bibhuti Chand Thakur, head of the trekking company Himalayan Holidays Nepal, noted that rescue teams faced significant challenges accessing the remote area.
The chance of survival remains high because of fresh snow, but the area is remote and cut off from communication. – Bibhuti Chand Thakur, Himalayan Holidays Nepal
Authorities had issued severe weather warnings across Nepal over the weekend. Continuous rain had affected much of the country since Thursday, with heavy snowfall recorded in higher northern regions.
The severe conditions disrupted roads and trekking routes. This prompted authorities to temporarily suspend climbing and trekking activities across several mountains in the Himalayan nation.
