A devastating avalanche hit the base camp of Himlung Himal, a 7,126-meter mountain in central Nepal, on Sunday, killing at least four people and leaving others missing. The base camp, located near the China border, was preparing for an expedition with a group from the United Arab Emirates set to arrive on October 1. Climbers and support staff, including Sherpas and kitchen staff, were fixing ropes and setting up tents when the torrent of snow and rock swept down the mountainside.
The avalanche occurred just weeks after a catastrophic flooding disaster on the Nepal-China border, which was triggered by a glacier collapse and landslide, killing at least 1,300 people and leaving over 5,000 missing. Despite the devastation, Nepal, which relies heavily on tourism, has been urging international visitors not to cancel their trips. However, severe weather warnings are in place for some parts of the Himalayan nation, and the National Trust for Nature Conservation recently suspended entry permits to the Annapurna and Manaslu conservation areas due to heavy rainfall.
According to Barun Bhandari, general manager of Himalayan Holidays, the company organizing the expedition, at least six Nepalis who were at the base camp are missing. The company is working with Nepal's tourism board to confirm the exact number of people missing and is preparing to send a rescue helicopter to the base camp. However, rainfall remains heavy in the area, and lines of communication are limited due to its remoteness.
The team, including Sherpas, kitchen staff, and general crew, had reached the base camp safely on September 18, carrying food and climbing equipment. They had been setting up tents, fixing ropes for the climb, monitoring the conditions on the mountain, and setting up the kitchen. The avalanche is a surprise, as the ground is very flat at the base camp, Bhandari said.
Four bodies had been recovered, and search operations were ongoing, according to the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, which wrote on its Facebook page on Monday. The association is working with local rescue groups to locate the missing people. The cause of the avalanche is still unknown, but the unpredictability of the mountain is a major concern.
The Nepal Tourism Board and local rescue groups are working together to respond to the disaster. The tourism board has been urging visitors to exercise caution, and rescue teams are facing challenges due to the remote location and severe weather conditions. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of tourists and locals in the region.
The avalanche at Himlung Himal is a significant blow to Nepal's tourism industry, which has been recovering from previous disasters. The incident highlights the need for increased safety measures and preparedness in the region. Authorities are working to assess the damage and respond to the crisis, with rescue efforts ongoing.
Key points
- At least four people killed in avalanche at Himlung Himal base camp
- Several people missing, with search operations ongoing
- Incident occurs amid severe weather warnings and recent disasters in Nepal
