Seven Climbers Dead After Nepal Avalanche

At least seven climbers, including five foreigners and two Nepalis, have died after being hit by an avalanche on a Himalayan peak in north-eastern Nepal, expedition agency Seven Summit Treks said.

The incident happened at 09:00 local time (03:15 GMT) on Monday near the base camp of the Yalung Ri mountain in Dolakha district.

Rescuers located two bodies, and are still searching for the remaining five, believed to have been buried by snow. Five others have returned to base camp with non-critical injuries.

All these climbers were part of a group that set out over an hour before the avalanche hit, the district police chief told the BBC.

The bodies of the other five deceased climbers “may be 10-15 feet below the snow”, said Mingma Sherpa, chairman of Seven Summit Treks. “It will take time to find them.”

Those killed include two Italians, a Canadian, a German, a French, and two Nepalis who served as guides.

Local deputy superintendent of Police Gyan Kumar Mahato told the BBC on Monday that a rescue helicopter had landed in the Na Gaun area of Dolakha – a five-hour walk from the Yalung Ri base camp.

One of the injured climbers told The Kathmandu Post that they had repeatedly called for help, to no avail. “Had the rescue arrived on time, more lives could have been saved,” he told the Nepali newspaper.

Mr Mahato told reporters that rescue efforts were hampered by poor weather and logistical issues, which made it hard to fly helicopters nor reach the site on foot.

The Kathmandu Post reported that the group were preparing to climb the nearby Dolma Khang peak, which has an elevation of 6,332m (20,774ft). They had planned to climb the 5,630m Yalung Ri as part of their acclimatisation schedule.

www.bbcnews.co.uk/world