An avalanche struck the base camp of Himlung Peak in central Nepal early Sunday, resulting in at least 10 local climbers and guides being reported missing, according to an expedition organiser. The incident highlights the inherent risks associated with high-altitude climbing in the region, particularly during the climbing season.
Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks, with foreign climbers contributing significantly to the country’s largely rural economy. The country has issued more than 500 permits for the autumn climbing season, with Manaslu, the world’s eighth-highest mountain, accounting for most of them. The latest incident comes as Nepal is already reeling from a devastating, tsunami-like flood on August 26 that killed more than 1,400 people and left over 6,000 missing. (With inputs from AFP)
“Eight members of our expedition team and two more from another company have been reported missing,” Thakur said, adding that all those missing are Nepali. The avalanche comes as Nepal is dealing with severe weather in several parts of the country. Heavy rainfall since Thursday has washed away roads and triggered landslides. Snowfall has also affected other popular climbing destinations. On Manaslu, heavy snow this week forced climbers to call off expeditions, while treks to the Dhaulagiri mountain range were also paused.
The 7,126-metre (23,345-foot) Himlung Peak is located near Nepal’s border with Tibet. Because of adverse weather conditions, Bibhuti Chand Thakur of Himalaya Holidays Trekking told news agency AFP, two helicopters and a search and rescue team are on standby but have been unable to begin operations.
Earlier reporting noted: Climbers evacuated after weather warning Earlier reporting noted: According to Sherpa, expedition and rope-fixing teams had evacuated the mountain slopes after a weather warning was issued last week. However, some people remained at the site despite the worsening conditions.
The area had experienced several days of heavy snowfall before the avalanche. Earlier reporting noted: The avalanche comes as a weather system over the Bay of Bengal brings heavy snowfall to Nepal’s mountain regions and persistent rain to the country’s hills and plains.
