At least 10 people missing after an avalanche at the base camp of Nepal’s Mount Himlung Himal

At least 10 Nepalese climbers and support team members are reported missing after an avalanche hit the base camp on Himlung Himal on Sunday. The peak stands at 7,126 meters and is located near Nepal’s border with Tibet. Heavy snowfall and severe weather are preventing rescue teams and helicopters from intervening.

The avalanche affected a transit area where Nepalese workers were preparing expeditions for foreign climbers. Eight members of one team and two employees of another company are missing. According to the information available, the foreign climbers had not yet arrived at the camp.

Two helicopters and a search-and-rescue team are waiting for weather conditions to improve before intervening. Operations are being hampered by snowfall in recent days and difficult access to the mountain.

The incident comes during a season marked by extreme weather in Nepal. Expeditions on Manaslu have been suspended due to the risk of avalanches, while access to the Dhaulagiri massif area has been restricted. Rain and storms have also caused floods and landslides in Nepal and India. Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks and is one of the main destinations for mountaineering.