KATHMANDU, Nepal — Rescuers have recovered eight bodies from the base camp of Mount Himlung in Nepal, bringing the death toll to 15 following a fatal avalanche triggered by severe weather on Sunday.
The Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, which is leading the search operation, stated that teams excavated through the snow on Mount Himlung to locate eight bodies inside tents at the base camp. One individual remains missing.
“Due to continuing mountain hazards, recovery efforts have been temporarily concluded,” the association said. “Further efforts may be possible when conditions allow.”
Experienced mountain guides from the association capitalized on a window of favorable weather and worked throughout the week to clear the snow that had buried the base camp.
Rescuers also located 10 other climbers who were part of the group on Mount Himlung, a 7,126-meter (23,380-foot) peak in north-central Nepal. The region is home to eight of the 14 tallest mountain peaks in the world, including Mount Everest.
The avalanche is considered one of the worst disasters in the history of Nepali mountaineering.
Each year, hundreds of foreign climbers travel to Nepal to attempt ascents of the highest mountain peaks, many of whom lose their lives trying to reach the summits during harsh weather conditions.
All those killed or missing this week were Nepali nationals preparing for foreign clients ahead of the autumn climbing season, which began this month.
Nepal is still recovering from devastating flooding in August that swept away several villages, leaving more than 1,400 people dead and nearly 6,000 missing.
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