Avalanche Tragedy: At Least 10 Missing at Himlung Himal Base Camp

A devastating avalanche has struck the base camp of Himlung Himal peak in Nepal's Manang district on Sunday, September 27, 2026, leaving at least 10 individuals initially feared missing. Rescue efforts are underway, but challenging weather conditions are significantly hampering operations. The incident occurred as a sheet of snow descended upon a climbing group, comprising Nepalese nationals, including experienced climbers and support staff.

This team had been dispatched ahead of foreign expeditions to prepare the base camp, manage the route, and fix ropes for upcoming ascents of the 7,126-meter (23,380 ft) peak, which borders Tibet. Authorities confirm that two bodies have been recovered from the avalanche site.

However, around a dozen people are still believed to be unaccounted for.

Bibhuti Chand Thakur, from Himalaya Holidays Trekking, reported to news agency AFP that at least eight members of his expedition team are among the missing. The exact total number of individuals still lost remains unclear as rescue operations continue. Poor weather, characterized by heavy snowfall in recent days, has made it exceedingly difficult for rescue helicopters and ground teams to access the remote location.

A specialized rescue team, flown from the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, is now expected to resume operations, battling thick snow and adverse conditions. This tragic event unfolds amid a period of extreme weather across Nepal's mountain regions, with persistent rain and snow creating treacherous conditions. The climbing tourism industry, vital to Nepal's economy, has been significantly impacted.

Earlier this week, climbers on Mount Manaslu, the world's eighth-highest peak, were forced to evacuate due to an increased avalanche threat. The incident adds to a series of recent mountaineering tragedies in the region. Less than two months ago, six climbers, including renowned British-Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja, lost their lives on Broad Peak in Pakistan.

Furthermore, Nepal is still grappling with the aftermath of a massive flood and landslide in August along the Nepal-Tibet border, where over 6,000 people remain missing following a glacial collapse that killed more than 1,400 people.

This succession of extreme weather events underscores the increasing dangers faced in the Himalayan region.

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