10 Missing After Avalanche Hits Himlung Himal Base Camp In Nepal

Kathmandu, Nepal - At least ten individuals are reported missing following a snow avalanche that struck the base camp of Himlung Himal in western Nepal's Manang district, according to expedition organizers. The disaster occurred on Sunday morning, according to Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, an organizer who confirmed that two members of his kitchen staff were among those gone.

The team had evacuated the mountain slopes after a weather warning was issued the previous week, but some climbers had not heeded the advice and remained. Nepal experienced heavy snowfall in the region for several days, prompting climbers to retreat from the autumn ascent. The 7,126-meter peak, located in Manang district, requires a special permit for helicopter flights, adding to the challenges of reaching the mountain.

The incident comes as Nepal grapples with worsening weather conditions, with rain and snowfall affecting various parts of the country, disrupting roads and prompting authorities to close sections to traffic. The Department of Tourism has urged travelers and climbers to suspend their activities due to deteriorating weather conditions.

This follows last month's devastating floods in Rasuwa, which killed over 1,400 people and left more than 5,000 missing, causing further damage to Nepal's tourism industry. The country has been grappling with persistent rainfall and snowfall, disrupting trekking routes and forcing the cancellation or suspension of major expeditions on Manaslu and Dhaulagiri.