Seven Climbers Killed in Avalanche at Yalung Ri Base Camp, Nepal

Post by : Raina Nasser

An avalanche struck the base camp of Yalung Ri Peak in eastern Nepal on Monday morning, claiming the lives of seven climbers and injuring additional members of the party. The 5,630-metre (18,471-foot) Himalayan peak in Dolakha district was the scene of the incident, where a group of 12 people had been based.

Expedition organisers say the fatalities comprise three Italian nationals, one German, one French climber and two Nepali climbers. Rescuers airlifted five other expedition members early Tuesday; among those evacuated were two French nationals and two Nepalis, with one other survivor moved to safety.

Phurba Tenjing Sherpa, an expedition leader with Dreamers Destination, verified the deaths and said he personally observed the bodies of the seven victims. Dreamers Destination had arranged the expedition for three of those killed.

Search-and-rescue efforts began immediately after the avalanche struck. Nepal Police helicopters and private choppers pushed through difficult weather to reach the remote camp. Officials said all survivors have been identified, and teams continue work to recover the remains buried in the avalanche debris.

Senior police officer Gyan Kumar Mahato said rescuers arrived at the site early in the morning and that the climbers who survived were evacuated and are receiving medical care.

The disaster occurred against a backdrop of deteriorating weather across Nepal. Authorities noted that Cyclone Montha last week brought heavy rain and snowfall to many Himalayan areas, leaving trekkers and climbers stranded on popular routes.

Nepal, which contains eight of the world’s ten highest peaks including Mount Everest, draws hundreds of climbers annually. Autumn is regarded as the secondary climbing season after spring, but shorter daylight, cold winds and unstable snow increase the hazards.

Officials at the Department of Tourism also reported that two Italian climbers are missing after attempting a remote summit in western Nepal, adding to recent mountaineering incidents in the country.

Records from the Himalayan Database show that at least 1,093 people have died on Nepal’s mountains since 1950, with roughly one-third of those fatalities attributed to avalanches.

Despite rugged terrain and poor conditions, rescue teams and authorities are maintaining operations to recover the deceased. Embassies of affected countries are working with local officials to identify victims and arrange repatriation.

Local police and expedition agencies said coordination between helicopter crews, ground teams and medical staff was ongoing as they secured the site and transported the injured to hospitals for treatment.

Organisers emphasized the unpredictable nature of high-altitude climbing this season and urged expeditions to monitor forecasts and adjust plans accordingly amid unstable snowpack and volatile weather systems.

Investigations into the exact cause and sequence of the avalanche are expected to continue as teams piece together testimony from survivors and examine conditions at the slope where the slide began.