Avalanche in Nepal Kills Seven Climbers, Including Five Foreign Nationals

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Business

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Image Source: Getty Images

At least seven climbers, including five foreigners and two Nepalis, were killed after being struck by an avalanche on Yalung Ri mountain in Nepal’s Dolakha district, officials confirmed on Monday. The tragedy occurred at around 9 a.m. local time near the base camp of the Himalayan peak, according to expedition agency Seven Summit Treks.

Rescuers have recovered two bodies and are continuing to search for the remaining five victims, who are believed to be buried under deep snow. Eight survivors were airlifted to Kathmandu for medical treatment after sustaining injuries in the avalanche.

The victims included two Italian nationals, a Canadian, a German, a French climber, and two Nepali guides. Mingma Sherpa, chairman of Seven Summit Treks, said the remaining bodies “may be 10 to 15 feet below the snow,” and warned that recovery efforts could take several days due to difficult conditions.

Police and rescue teams have been hampered by poor weather and the remote location of the site. A helicopter managed to land in the Na Gaun area, about a five-hour trek from the Yalung Ri base camp, to assist in rescue operations. One injured climber told local media that the group repeatedly called for help but rescue teams were delayed, suggesting that faster response times might have saved more lives.

The climbers were reportedly training on the 5,630-meter Yalung Ri as part of an acclimatization schedule before attempting to summit the nearby 6,332-meter Dolma Khang peak.

In a separate incident, authorities confirmed the recovery of two Italian climbers who went missing on Panbari mountain in western Nepal last week. Their team had been stranded following heavy snowfall linked to Cyclone Montha, which brought severe weather and avalanches across the region.

Autumn is traditionally a peak season for mountaineering in Nepal, but recent storms and unstable weather have underscored the growing risks climbers face in the Himalayas.