At least four people were killed and 12 are missing after an avalanche struck the base camp of Mount Himlung in Nepal's Manang district on Sunday, with rescue teams digging through deep snow on Monday, the Associated Press reported.
The avalanche buried tents at the base camp of the 7,126-metre peak in north-central Nepal during severe weather. Rescuers from the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, which is leading the effort, said they recovered two more bodies on Monday in addition to two found on Sunday. Eight experienced mountain guides took advantage of improving weather to dig through the snow that had covered the tents, and ten people were rescued.
All victims Nepali nationals
All those killed or missing were Nepali nationals who were at base camp preparing for foreign clients to arrive for the autumn climbing season that began this month, AP reported. Helicopters brought the remains down to Kathmandu airport.
Manang Chief District Officer Mukti Prasad Khanal told IANS that around 27 expedition guides and support staff from various climbing companies were believed to have been at the base camp when the avalanche struck, fixing ropes and setting up tents. Eleven people had made contact after the disaster, he said.
Wider weather crisis
The district administration office said flooding and landslides in Manang were caused by heavy rainfall. Nepal's disaster management agency said 21 other people have been killed and five more are missing in different parts of the country between Thursday and Sunday, AP reported.
The Manang administration had earlier prohibited trekking in several high-altitude areas from September 25 to 27, citing forecasts of heavy to very heavy rainfall and snowfall. The Nepali Army has been deployed to prepare for the possible blasting of a landslide-created dam blocking a section of the Marshyangdi River in upper Manang, authorities said.
Search operations were continuing as of Monday.
Sources: Associated Press (via Netscape): Rescue teams in Nepal search for 12 missing after avalanche kills 4 · Yes Punjab (IANS): Nepal Avalanche at Himlung Base Camp Kills 4, Leaves 12 Missing
The avalanche buried tents at the base camp of the 7,126-metre peak in north-central Nepal during severe weather. Rescuers from the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, which is leading the effort, said they recovered two more bodies on Monday in addition to two found on Sunday. Eight experienced mountain guides took advantage of improving weather to dig through the snow that had covered the tents, and ten people were rescued.
All victims Nepali nationals
All those killed or missing were Nepali nationals who were at base camp preparing for foreign clients to arrive for the autumn climbing season that began this month, AP reported. Helicopters brought the remains down to Kathmandu airport.
Manang Chief District Officer Mukti Prasad Khanal told IANS that around 27 expedition guides and support staff from various climbing companies were believed to have been at the base camp when the avalanche struck, fixing ropes and setting up tents. Eleven people had made contact after the disaster, he said.
Wider weather crisis
The district administration office said flooding and landslides in Manang were caused by heavy rainfall. Nepal's disaster management agency said 21 other people have been killed and five more are missing in different parts of the country between Thursday and Sunday, AP reported.
The Manang administration had earlier prohibited trekking in several high-altitude areas from September 25 to 27, citing forecasts of heavy to very heavy rainfall and snowfall. The Nepali Army has been deployed to prepare for the possible blasting of a landslide-created dam blocking a section of the Marshyangdi River in upper Manang, authorities said.
Search operations were continuing as of Monday.
Sources: Associated Press (via Netscape): Rescue teams in Nepal search for 12 missing after avalanche kills 4 · Yes Punjab (IANS): Nepal Avalanche at Himlung Base Camp Kills 4, Leaves 12 Missing
