Rescue teams in Nepal are battling heavy snow and poor weather in an effort to locate members of a climbing expedition believed to be missing after an avalanche struck the base camp of Himlung Himal. The avalanche hit on Sunday morning as a Nepalese team prepared the mountain ahead of foreign climbers.
Highlights
- An avalanche struck the Himlung Himal base camp in Nepal.
- Around a dozen people are feared missing, although the exact figure remains unclear.
- At least eight members of one expedition team have reportedly not been accounted for.
- Heavy snow and poor weather have delayed rescue operations.
- Himlung Himal rises to 7,126 metres near Nepal’s border with Tibet.
Main Story
Avalanche Strikes Himlung Himal
A climbing expedition in Nepal has been hit by a major avalanche, with several people feared missing at the base camp of Himlung Himal.
The avalanche occurred on Sunday morning in Manang district, where a large mass of snow swept across the camp as teams prepared for the climbing season.
Initial reports suggest around a dozen people could still be unaccounted for, although authorities and expedition operators have yet to establish the exact number.
Nepalese Team Was Preparing the Route
The affected group was made up of Nepalese climbers and support personnel who had travelled ahead of foreign mountaineers.
Their responsibilities included preparing the base camp, managing the route and fixing ropes to help facilitate upcoming climbs on the 7,126-metre mountain.
Bibhuti Chand Thakur of Himalaya Holidays Trekking told AFP that at least eight members of his expedition team were believed to be missing.
The full number of people caught up in the avalanche has not yet been confirmed.
Bad Weather Complicates Rescue
Rescue efforts have been severely affected by the weather conditions around the mountain.
Heavy snowfall has made it difficult for helicopters and rescue teams to reach the affected area, forcing authorities to delay parts of the operation.
A team of experienced mountaineers was dispatched from Kathmandu by helicopter to assist with the search.
However, thick snow and continued poor weather mean the operation is expected to continue into Monday as rescuers work to reach the base camp and search for survivors.
Growing Avalanche Risk in Nepal
The incident comes as several mountain areas in Nepal experience persistent rain and snowfall, creating dangerous conditions for climbers and support teams.
The country’s mountain tourism industry relies heavily on expeditions, but the latest weather has increased the risk of avalanches across some of the region’s major peaks.
Earlier in the week, climbers on Mount Manaslu, the world’s eighth-highest mountain, were forced to leave the mountain because of growing avalanche concerns.
With conditions still unstable, rescuers face a race against time to reach those who may be trapped beneath the snow.
As rescuers confront heavy snow and worsening mountain conditions, every hour could prove critical in the search for those still missing.
