An avalanche at a base camp on Nepal’s Yalung Ri peak kills three and leaves four foreign climbers missing, with rescue efforts delayed by weather
KATHMANDU: An avalanche at a mountain base camp in eastern Nepal has killed at least three people and left four foreign climbers missing.
The avalanche struck a group of 12 people on the 5,630-metre Yalung Ri peak on Monday morning.
Senior police official Gyan Kumar Mahato in Dolakha district confirmed the incident and the casualties.
Of the three dead, two are Nepali and one is a foreigner, according to local people at the scene.
Mahato did not specify the nationalities of the dead and missing foreigners involved in the disaster.
Media reports indicated up to seven people had died in the avalanche, with Americans, an Italian and a Canadian among the deceased.
Bad weather in Dolakha district initially delayed all rescue efforts following the avalanche.
A helicopter has now landed in the vicinity to support the ongoing search and rescue operations.
Search and rescue operations are scheduled to be carried out on Tuesday morning, weather permitting.
Nepal is home to eight of the world’s ten highest peaks, including Mount Everest.
The country welcomes hundreds of climbers and trekkers every year to its famous Himalayan mountains.
Autumn expeditions in the Himalayas are less popular due to shorter, colder days and snowy terrain.
The autumn season also offers a narrower summit window compared to the busy spring climbing period.
Last week, Cyclone Montha triggered heavy rain and snowfall across Nepal, affecting many areas.
The severe weather left numerous trekkers and tourists stranded on popular Himalayan trekking routes.
In a separate incident, two Italian climbers have also gone missing while scaling a remote peak in western Nepal.
Tourism officials confirmed the disappearance of the two Italians on Monday. – AFP
