Ten climbers missing after avalanche hits Himalayan base camp

At least 10 Nepali climbers who were preparing to lead an expedition are missing after an avalanche hit a base camp in the Himalayas on Sunday.

Key points

• Forecasts indicated there was heavy snowfall around the 7, 126 metre (23, 380ft) peak in recent days.
• Bibhuti Chand Thakur, of Himalaya Holidays Trekking, informed AFP news agency: "Eight members of our expedition team and two more from another company have been reported missing."
• The latest death of Nepali climbers comes less than two months after six lost their lives on Broad Peak in Pakistan, including renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja.
• Extreme weather further south in the neighbouring Indian region of Uttar Pradesh has killed more than 50 individuals, office-holders there noted.
• Climbers were forced to leave Mount Manaslu, the eighth highest peak in the world, earlier this week due to the rising threat of avalanches.

Notably, the climb's organisers remarked the local guides were at a staging point close to the Himlung Himal peak in Manang district when the avalanche struck on Sunday morning.

Forecasts indicated there was heavy snowfall around the 7, 126 metre (23, 380ft) peak in recent days. It lies on Nepal's border with Tibet.

Poor weather has hampered rescue efforts, with helicopters and rescue teams unable to reach the site.

Notably, the Nepali team had been sent ahead of foreign climbers to prepare the camp, manage the route and fix ropes on the mountain.

Nepal's mountain districts have seen persistent rain and snow in recent days, creating treacherous conditions for the country's economically significant climbing tourism industry.

Notably, the latest death of Nepali climbers comes less than two months after six lost their lives on Broad Peak in Pakistan, including renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja.

It comes as efforts to recover bodies continues on the Nepal-Tibet border, where more than 6, 000 individuals are still missing after a massive flood and landslide in August.

More than 1, 400 individuals are confirmed to have died after a glacial collapse in the Himalayas sent vast quantities of water and debris careering down the Trishuli River valley, sweeping away settlements.

Taken together, the developments around ten climbers missing after avalanche hits Himalayan base camp point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.