Nepal avalanche kills at least 15 expedition workers

What the report says

Rescuers in Nepal have recovered 15 bodies after an avalanche hit a mountain base camp near the 7,126-metre Himlung peak in central Nepal, according to Al Jazeera’s report on Friday. The avalanche struck early on Sunday at a camp used by expedition workers near the Chinese border, while crews were setting up tents and fixing ropes for later climbs. Rescue teams continued searching through deep snow before the operation was expected to wind down.

Al Jazeera reported that eight additional bodies were found on Thursday, bringing the confirmed death toll to at least 15. The victims included Nepali workers, with the recovered bodies initially identified in stages over several days, and one person remained missing. Tul Singh Gurung, head of the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, said the latest bodies were expected to be flown to Kathmandu. He also said the missing worker was unlikely to be found and that foreign climbers had not yet arrived at the site when the avalanche occurred.

The disaster is one of Nepal’s worst mountain accidents in recent years. Nepal depends heavily on mountaineering and trekking tourism, and Himlung is a popular peak for climbers preparing to tackle higher mountains. The report also noted that Nepal has recently faced other severe natural disasters, including floods and landslides, adding to pressure on rescue and recovery efforts.