Ten climbers missing after avalanche hits Himalayan base camp

Ten Nepalese climbers are reported missing after an avalanche struck their base camp near the Himlung Himal peak in Manang district, according to the organizers. The climbers were at a staging point close to the 7,126m tall peak when the disaster occurred. Heavy snowfall in recent days, forecasted earlier, contributed to poor weather conditions that have hindered rescue efforts, making it difficult for helicopters and rescue teams to reach the remote location.

The Nepali team, organized by Himalaya Holidays Trekking, had been leading the expedition and preparing for foreign climbers to follow. The region has been experiencing persistent rain and snow, creating hazardous conditions for Nepal's lucrative climbing tourism industry. Earlier this week, climbers were compelled to leave Mount Manaslu, the world's eighth highest peak, due to the heightened risk of avalanches.

This incident adds to Nepal's recent tragic record, as six climbers lost their lives on Broad Peak in Pakistan just two months ago. The ongoing search and recovery efforts also extend to a region bordering Nepal and Tibet, where over 6,000 individuals remain missing following a massive flood and landslide in August. The country has been grappling with the aftermath of extreme weather events, including a deadly flood in Uttar Pradesh that claimed over 50 lives, and a severe flood emergency in Bangkok caused by recent heavy rainfall.

Additionally, a typhoon that struck Tokyo earlier this week led to landslides, resulting in four fatalities. The increasing intensity of such storms can be attributed to the "super El Niño", a phenomenon characterized by warmer sea waters that fosters the formation of powerful storms in the Pacific.