Kathmandu: At least four people have died and 12 remain missing after an avalanche struck the base camp of Mt. Himlung in Nepal’s mountainous Manang district, officials said on Monday.
Manang Chief District Officer Mukti Prasad Khanal said the bodies of four people had been recovered from the site. Two bodies were airlifted to Kathmandu, while two others were taken to Chame, the district headquarters of Manang.
More than two dozen expedition guides and support staff from different expedition companies were reportedly staying at the base camp of the 7,126-metre-high mountain when the avalanche struck. They had been working to fix ropes and prepare tents ahead of the autumn climbing season.
27 People Were at Base Camp
According to officials, around 27 people were believed to be staying at the base camp when the avalanche hit. So far, 11 people have managed to make contact following the disaster, while rescue teams are searching for those still missing.
Rescue operations began early Monday, with helicopters being deployed to reach the affected area. Improved weather conditions helped authorities continue the rescue operation after several days of persistent rainfall that had triggered landslides and flooding in parts of Nepal, including Manang.
Trekking Restrictions Had Been Imposed
The incident occurred despite earlier warnings over adverse weather conditions in the high-altitude areas.
The District Administration Office in Manang had prohibited trekking in several high-altitude areas from September 25 to 27 following forecasts of heavy to very heavy rainfall and snowfall in higher Himalayan regions.
The restriction was imposed after the District Security Committee assessed the potential risk to human life from the adverse weather conditions.
Nepal has been experiencing persistent rainfall since September 24, with water levels in several rivers rising significantly. Authorities have advised people living along river corridors to move to higher ground.
Nepali Army Mobilised Over Landslide-Dammed River
Meanwhile, the Nepali Army has been deployed in Manang to prepare for the possible blasting of a naturally formed dam created by a landslide that is blocking a significant portion of the Marshyangdi River in its upper reaches.
Officials said army personnel were preparing at the site for possible controlled blasting to address the landslide-created obstruction.
The avalanche comes amid a period of severe weather and natural disasters in Nepal. The country has recently faced landslides, flooding and other weather-related incidents in several areas.