An avalanche at a mountain base camp in Nepal has killed two mountain guides, while several other expedition staff remain missing.
Image used for illustrative purposes/By: Boy_Anupong/Getty Images
The avalanche struck the base camp of 7,126m Himlung Himal on Sunday morning after days of heavy rain and snowfall across the region. According to DW, the two deceased were among guides and support staff working for Nepalese expedition companies preparing the camp ahead of climbing expeditions.
The Nepal National Mountain Guide Association said 14 kitchen staff members and two climbing guides had initially been reported missing. The two guides were later found dead.
Search and rescue operations under way
The exact number of people still missing remains unclear, with reports differing over how many people were at the base camp when the avalanche struck.
Local police said at least 22 people were in the area at the time. Search and rescue operations were under way, although the remote location and disrupted communications were making it difficult for authorities to establish the full extent of the disaster.
Fresh snow may also give rescuers some hope of finding survivors, according to Bibhuti Chand Thakur of trekking company Himalayan Holidays Nepal, who spoke to DPA.
Severe weather disrupts mountain activities
The avalanche follows several days of severe weather across Nepal. Heavy rain has affected much of the country, while snowfall has been reported in higher-lying northern regions.
The conditions have disrupted roads and trekking routes, with authorities also suspending climbing and trekking activities on several mountains.
Nepal is a major destination for mountaineering and trekking, with eight of the world’s 14 peaks above 8,000m located within the country. The sector is an important contributor to the country’s tourism economy and supports thousands of guides, porters and other workers.
The latest disaster comes as Nepal continues to deal with the aftermath of devastating floods in August, which killed more than 1,400 people and left thousands missing.
Source: DW
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