Avalanche at Yalung Ri Base Camp in Nepal Kills Seven Climbers

An avalanche swept through the base camp of Yalung Ri Peak in eastern Nepal on Monday morning, killing seven climbers and injuring others. The 5,630-metre (18,471-foot) Himalayan mountain in Dolakha district was hosting 12 people when the disaster struck.

Expedition organisers said the fatalities include three Italians, one German, one French climber and two Nepalis. Five other expedition members — including two French nationals and two Nepalis — were rescued by helicopter early Tuesday and flown to safety.

Phurba Tenjing Sherpa, an expedition leader with Dreamers Destination, confirmed the seven deaths and said he had seen the bodies. His company had arranged the climb for three of those who died.

Rescue teams moved in soon after the slide. Nepal Police helicopters and private aircraft battled poor weather to reach the isolated base camp. Officials say all survivors have been accounted for and teams continue efforts to recover the victims from the avalanche debris.

Senior police official Gyan Kumar Mahato said, "Rescuers reached the site early this morning. The surviving climbers were taken to safety and are receiving medical care."

The avalanche occurred amid deteriorating weather across Nepal. Last week, Cyclone Montha brought heavy rain and snowfall to many Himalayan areas, leaving trekkers and climbers stranded on popular routes.

Nepal, which hosts eight of the world’s ten highest peaks including Mount Everest, attracts hundreds of climbers each year. Autumn is the second-busiest climbing season after spring, but shorter days, strong winds and unstable snow often raise the danger.

The Department of Tourism reported that two other Italian climbers are missing while attempting a remote peak in western Nepal, adding to recent mountaineering incidents.

The Himalayan Database records at least 1,093 deaths on Nepal’s mountains since 1950, with roughly one-third of those fatalities caused by avalanches.

Authorities and rescue teams continue operations despite difficult terrain and weather, while foreign embassies are coordinating with local officials to identify and repatriate the bodies of the deceased.