Crystal Dike
At least seven climbers, including five foreigners and two Nepali guides, have been killed in a Nepal avalanche that struck near the base camp of the Yalung Ri mountain in north-eastern Nepal on Monday, according to expedition agency Seven Summit Treks.
The Nepal avalanche occurred around 09:00 local time (03:15 GMT) in Dolakha district, sweeping away members of a climbing team preparing for their ascent. Rescue officials said two bodies have been recovered, while five others are believed to be buried 10 to 15 feet beneath the snow. Eight survivors were airlifted to Kathmandu for medical treatment.
Those confirmed dead include two Italians, a Canadian, a German, a French climber, and two Nepalis who were serving as guides. “It will take time to find the remaining bodies as they may be deep under the snow,” said Mingma Sherpa, chairman of Seven Summit Treks.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Gyan Kumar Mahato said a rescue helicopter reached the Na Gaun area, about a five-hour walk from Yalung Ri base camp, but poor weather conditions made it difficult to continue search operations. Survivors told The Kathmandu Post that repeated calls for help went unanswered. “Had the rescue arrived on time, more lives could have been saved,” one injured climber said.
Reports indicate that the team had planned to climb the Dolma Khang peak (6,332m) and were scaling Yalung Ri (5,630m) as part of their acclimatisation routine before the Nepal avalanche struck.
In a separate incident, two Italian climbers, Stefano Farronato and Alessandro Caputo, remain missing on Panbari mountain in western Nepal. Their teammate, Velter Perlino, 65, has been rescued, authorities confirmed.
Autumn is one of Nepal’s busiest mountaineering seasons, but experts warn that unpredictable weather has made climbs riskier. Heavy snowfall and rain triggered by Cyclone Montha last week have raised avalanche threats across the Himalayas.
The latest Nepal avalanche highlights the persistent dangers faced by climbers in the region, as shifting weather patterns and unstable snowpacks continue to claim lives on the world’s highest peaks.