An avalanche struck the base camp of Yalung Ri peak (5,630 metres/18,471 feet) in eastern Nepal on Monday morning, killing seven climbers, including three Italians, a German, a French climber, and two Nepalis, authorities and expedition organisers said Tuesday.
The incident involved a group of 12 climbers. Five survivors, including two French and two Nepalis, were rescued Tuesday morning by helicopter, according to local police. Dreamers Destination, the expedition organiser for three of the victims, confirmed all seven bodies had been recovered.
Nepal, home to eight of the world’s 10 highest peaks, attracts hundreds of climbers each year. The autumn season, though shorter and colder than spring, remains popular for Himalayan expeditions.
Recent Cyclone Montha brought heavy rain and snowfall across Nepal, complicating trekking and climbing conditions. Meanwhile, two Italian climbers remain missing on a remote western peak. Since 1950, avalanches have caused nearly a third of the 1,093 recorded deaths on Himalayan peaks.
