Avalanche Hits Himlung Himal Base Camp in Nepal, 10 Climbers and Support Staff Missing

An avalanche hits the Himlung Himal base camp in Nepal amid heavy snowfall, with 10 climbers and support staff reported missing. Photo credit: Unsplash.

 An avalanche struck the base camp of Himlung Himal in Nepal on Sunday morning, leaving 10 climbers and support staff unaccounted for as authorities and expedition teams work to determine their whereabouts.

The avalanche hit the base camp of Himlung Himal, a 7,126-metre mountain located in the Nar Phu area of Manang district in western Nepal. Expedition organisers confirmed that people associated with different expedition teams are among those reported missing.

According to information confirmed by the Expedition Operators Association Nepal, two of those unaccounted for are associated with Imagine Nepal, while eight are linked to Himalayan Holidays Nepal. The exact identities and nationalities of all 10 missing people have not yet been publicly confirmed.

Expedition organiser Mingma Gyalje Sherpa also confirmed that two members of his kitchen staff were among those missing. He said the avalanche struck on Sunday morning after several days of heavy snowfall and deteriorating weather conditions in the mountain region.

Heavy snowfall had already forced climbers to retreat

The avalanche occurred amid difficult weather conditions across Nepal’s high-altitude areas. Heavy snowfall had been affecting the Himlung Himal region for several days, prompting expedition and rope-fixing teams to move away from exposed mountain slopes.

Reports indicate that some people remained at or returned to the base camp despite the worsening conditions. The autumn climbing season preparations had been underway at Himlung Himal, with teams working to establish climbing routes ahead of the main expedition period.

Himlung Himal is considered an important high-altitude climbing destination in Nepal and attracts climbers seeking experience on peaks above 7,000 metres.

Search and rescue efforts

Nepalese authorities are monitoring the situation and gathering information about the missing people. The Department of Tourism said officials were closely following developments and efforts were being made to locate and rescue those unaccounted for.

Rescue operations could face significant challenges because of the mountain’s remote location and the continuing adverse weather. Helicopter operations in the area also require additional permissions, potentially complicating an immediate aerial response.

At this stage, authorities have not confirmed the deaths of the 10 missing people. They remain officially unaccounted for while efforts are made to establish their condition and location.

Bad weather affects Nepal’s mountains

The Himlung Himal incident comes during a wider period of unsettled weather in Nepal. Persistent rain in lower areas and heavy snowfall in the mountains have disrupted travel and trekking activities in several regions.

Nepal’s tourism authorities have urged trekkers and mountaineers to exercise caution and suspend activities where weather conditions become unsafe. The deteriorating conditions have also affected other major mountaineering expeditions, including operations around Manaslu and Dhaulagiri.

The avalanche has therefore added another challenge for Nepal’s autumn mountaineering season, which had been preparing to welcome climbers to several major Himalayan peaks.

Authorities and expedition organisers are expected to provide further information as search and rescue efforts develop.