Nepal Police confirmed on Monday (November 3) that a climbing team in the Dolakha region of the Himalayas was hit by an avalanche, resulting in multiple casualties and missing individuals.
According to reports from the Kathmandu Post, at least seven people, including foreign climbers, were reported dead after the avalanche swept through the base camp on the glacier, with four others injured.
Deputy Superintendent of Police in the district, Gyan Kumar Mahato, stated that among the deceased were three American citizens, one Canadian citizen, one Italian citizen, and two Nepali nationals.
The incident occurred around 9 a.m. local time in the Yalung Ri Peak, with an elevation of 5,630 meters, located northeast of Kathmandu in the Himalayan region. Earlier reports suggested that three climbers, including a foreign national, succumbed to the mountaineering tragedy.
Yalung Ri Peak is situated in the Rolwaling Valley in the Dolakha district of Bagmati province, Nepal.
Currently, eight individuals remain missing, including five foreigners. Furthermore, the four injured climbers have been safely evacuated to nearby villages for medical treatment.
Police spokesperson Gyan Kumar Mahato mentioned that the affected team comprised around 15 foreign climbers and Nepali guides. Ground search and rescue teams from the military and police have been dispatched to the scene, with helicopters also engaged in the rescue operation.
However, rescue efforts are facing significant challenges as Yalung Ri Peak is located in the complex and hazardous terrain of the Rolwaling Valley, characterized by a mix of rocks and ice and snow. Following the avalanche, due to the valley being a restricted flying zone and adverse weather conditions, helicopter rescue responses have been delayed. This tragedy once again underscores the immense risks associated with exploration in high-altitude areas of the Himalayas.