KATHMANDU: At least 10 Nepali climbers and mountain guides are missing after an avalanche struck the base camp of Himlung Peak in Nepal’s Himalayas on Sunday morning, according to an expedition organiser.
The 7,126-metre Himlung Peak is located near Nepal’s border with Tibet. The area had experienced several days of heavy snowfall before the avalanche.
Bibhuti Chand Thakur of Himalaya Holidays Trekking told AFP that two helicopters and a search-and-rescue team were on standby. However, poor weather conditions prevented the rescue operation from moving ahead.
According to Thakur, eight members of one expedition team and two people associated with another company were reported missing. All 10 missing people are Nepali nationals.
Heavy snowfall and unstable mountain conditions can significantly increase avalanche risks in high-altitude areas. Rescue operations in such environments can also be severely affected by poor visibility, snowfall and difficult terrain.
Authorities and rescue teams are expected to assess weather and mountain conditions before search operations can safely proceed.
