What happened
An avalanche struck a climbing group at the base camp of Himlung Himal peak in the Nepalese Himalayas, resulting in the recovery of four bodies. A dozen Nepalese cook staff are still missing after the avalanche, which occurred on Sunday morning. The group had been preparing the camp for foreign climbers to ascend the 7,126m peak.
Poor weather conditions, including heavy snowfall, have hindered rescue efforts. A rescue team of experienced mountaineers was dispatched from Kathmandu, but their search efforts have been challenging due to the deep snow, freezing temperatures, and unstable conditions.
The Nepal National Mountain Guide Association reported that the avalanche was exceptionally large, with approximately 14 feet of snow covering the base camp area. The association has temporarily paused operations due to the conditions but plans to continue searching for the remaining missing individuals when it is safe to do so.
The incident highlights the treacherous conditions in Nepal's mountain districts, which have seen persistent rain and snow in recent days. This has created challenges for the country's climbing tourism industry, with climbers forced to leave Mount Manaslu earlier this week due to the rising threat of avalanches.
