An avalanche on Nepal's Himlung peak has resulted in at least two deaths and 14 people missing. The disaster occurred on Sunday at the base camp of the 7,126-metre peak near the Chinese border. Rescuers worked through the day and evening to locate survivors, with eight mountain guides involved in the search operation. According to Tul Singh Gurung, president of the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, the search continued late into the evening.
The avalanche buried tents under deep snow at the base camp, where expedition workers and guides were stationed. The deceased have been identified as guides, while the 14 missing individuals were kitchen staff working at the expedition camp. Initially, organisers reported that at least 10 people were missing, but the number has since been updated. The challenging weather conditions have hampered rescue efforts, with mountaineer Mingma G Sherpa citing bad weather as a major obstacle.
The rescue team, led by Mingma G Sherpa, reached the accident site only in the evening due to the adverse weather conditions. Sherpa expressed regret that they could have potentially saved more lives if they had reached the site earlier. The search operation is ongoing, with efforts focused on locating the missing kitchen staff. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of expedition teams and staff in the region.
Nepal has experienced a series of natural disasters in recent weeks, including a devastating glacial flood on August 26 that killed over 1,400 people and left more than 6,000 missing. Heavy rain since Thursday has triggered additional floods and landslides, resulting in at least 21 fatalities, according to the national disaster agency. The country is still reeling from these disasters, and the avalanche on Himlung peak has added to the humanitarian concerns.
The Himalayan nation relies heavily on mountaineering and trekking tourism, with eight of the world's 14 highest peaks located in Nepal. The incident on Himlung peak has raised questions about safety measures and emergency preparedness in the region. Authorities and expedition organisers will likely face scrutiny over their handling of the disaster and efforts to prevent such incidents in the future.
The search operation on Himlung peak is being led by a team of eight mountain guides, who are working tirelessly to locate the missing individuals. The guides are facing challenging weather conditions, including snow and high altitude, as they search for survivors. The Nepal National Mountain Guide Association is playing a key role in coordinating the rescue efforts.
The avalanche on Himlung peak serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with mountaineering and trekking in the Himalayas. As the search operation continues, authorities and stakeholders will need to assess the safety measures in place and take steps to mitigate the risks faced by expedition teams and staff. The incident has also highlighted the need for emergency preparedness and response planning in the region.
Key points
- Two people killed and 14 missing after avalanche on Nepal's Himlung peak
- Challenging weather conditions hampering rescue efforts
- Nepal has experienced a series of natural disasters in recent weeks, including floods and landslides
