Ten climbers missing after avalanche hits Himalayan base camp

At least ten Nepali climbers are reported missing following an avalanche that struck a base camp staging area in the Himalayas on Sunday. The incident occurred near Himlung Himal, a peak rising to 7,126 metres (23,380ft) in the Manang district, which sits on the border between Nepal and Tibet.

The affected team consisted of local guides dispatched ahead of international expeditions to establish camps, manage routes, and fix ropes. Organisers confirmed that eight members from Himalaya Holidays Trekking and two from a separate company were among those unaccounted for.

Bibhuti Chand Thakur of Himalaya Holidays Trekking told AFP that the group was preparing for a climb when the snowslide hit. Meteorological data indicates heavy snowfall in the area over recent days, contributing to hazardous conditions across Nepal’s mountain districts.

Rescue operations have been severely impeded by persistent bad weather. Helicopters and ground teams have been unable to reach the site, leaving hopes of a swift recovery dim.

This tragedy adds to a difficult period for Nepal’s climbing tourism sector, a vital component of the national economy. Earlier this week, climbers were forced to abandon expeditions on Mount Manaslu, the world’s eighth-highest peak, due to escalating avalanche risks. The incident also follows a deadly avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan less than two months ago, which claimed the lives of six climbers, including British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja.

Compounding the region’s recent disasters, extreme weather in the neighbouring Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has killed over 50 people. Meanwhile, recovery efforts continue along the Nepal-Tibet border, where more than 6,000 individuals remain missing following massive floods and landslides in August. A separate glacial collapse in the Himalayas sent debris and water down the Trishuli River valley, resulting in at least 1,400 confirmed deaths.