An avalanche on Mount Yalung Ri in Nepal has killed five foreign climbers and two Nepali guides, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The incident occurred at the base camp, situated at an altitude of 4,900 metres.
Shailendra Thapa, a spokesperson for the armed police force, stated that five other individuals were injured in the avalanche. The nationalities of the deceased climbers have not been officially confirmed, but local media reports indicate that three were American, one was Canadian, and one was Italian.
Rescue efforts have been hampered by adverse weather conditions. A rescue helicopter attempted to reach the site but was forced to turn back due to poor visibility and snowstorms. Thapa said another attempt would be made at dawn on Tuesday.
Mount Yalung Ri, standing at 5,600 metres, is considered a beginner-friendly peak, often attracting climbers with no prior high-altitude experience. The avalanche comes during the autumn climbing season, which sees hundreds of foreign climbers tackling smaller peaks between the monsoon rains and winter.
