Bodies of five climbers finally recovered nine months after Nepal avalanche

KATHMANDU, Aug 10 — Nepalese rescuers have recovered the bodies of five climbers, including three foreigners, who perished in an avalanche near the Chinese border last year, according to officials. The deadly avalanche struck the climbers on the lower slopes of the 5,630-meter Yalung Ri peak, situated close to Nepal's border with Tibet, in November 2025.

Phurba Tenjing Sherpa, director of expedition company Dreamers Destination, informed AFP that all five bodies were retrieved this morning by helicopter and his rescue team. The foreign victims comprised an Italian-Canadian, a German, and an Italian, he explained. The remains of all five climbers, including two Nepalis, were discovered on Saturday.

Sherpa stated that his team, along with other expedition companies, conducted a search in the region following the avalanche's impact on the climbers. "Due to the heavy snow, we were unable to locate the bodies, thus we delayed the search... The bodies were located this time as the snow had melted," he said. Manoj Kumar Lama, a senior local police officer, added that the bodies would be transported to Kathmandu as soon as the weather conditions permit.

Nepal, home to eight of the world's ten highest peaks, including Mount Everest, attracts thousands of climbers and trekkers annually. According to the Himalayan Database, an expedition archive, over 1,000 people have lost their lives on peaks since 1950, with avalanches claiming nearly one-third of these fatalities.