Avalanche at Himlung Himal base camp leaves 10 missing
An avalanche at the Himlung Himal base camp in Nepal has left at least 10 people missing, according to expedition organisers.
At least ten people are reported missing following a devastating avalanche that struck the Himlung Himal base camp in western Nepal on Sunday morning. The incident occurred in the Manang district, near the border with Tibet, as extreme weather continues to lash the region.
Search efforts complicated by terrain and weather
Expedition organiser Mingma Gyalje Sherpa confirmed the tragedy, noting that two of his own kitchen staff are among those currently unaccounted for. The disaster follows several days of intense snowfall in the mountain region, which had already forced many climbers to abandon their autumn ascents.
While many expedition and rope-fixing teams had successfully evacuated the slopes following a weather warning issued last week, some individuals reportedly chose to stay behind. The victims are said to belong to various different expedition companies.
Rescue operations face significant hurdles due to the location's geography. Standing at 7,126 metres, Himlung Himal requires special permits for helicopter flights, complicating any aerial rescue attempts in the high-altitude terrain.
Nepal grappling with severe weather systems
The avalanche is part of a broader pattern of adverse weather affecting Nepal. A weather system over the Bay of Bengal has been bringing heavy snowfall to the mountains and persistent rainfall to the country's hills and plains. This has led to:
- Disrupted road networks and local traffic closures.
- Suspension of major trekking and climbing expeditions on peaks like Manaslu and Dhaulagiri.
- Official alerts from the Department of Tourism advising climbers and trekkers to halt all activities.
A recurring pattern of mountain disasters
The recent disaster adds to a string of tragedies in the region. Last month, devastating floods in Rasuwa resulted in over 1,400 deaths and left more than 5,000 people missing after settlements along the Trishuli River were washed away.
The mountains have also claimed high-profile lives recently. In August, the remains of three legendary high-altitude guides—Kili Pemba Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa, and Nima Sherpa—were returned to their families following a massive avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak in July. That incident claimed the lives of an entire 10-person international team during an ascent in the Karakoram range.