Avalanche at Himlung Himal Leaves 10 Chinese-licensed Nepali Climbers Missing

Sun Sep 27 2026 14:23:15 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A sudden avalanche at the Himlung Himal base camp has stranded ten Nepali climbers who were preparing to lead an expedition, as rescue teams struggle to reach the site in heavy snow.

On Sunday morning an avalanche slammed into a staging point near the 7,126‑metre Himlung Himal, claiming ten Nepali climbers who had been organising a foreign expedition. The mountain was prone to snowfall the week before, and the disaster has hit the most popular foothill for overseas trekkers. Rescue helicopters could not land due to worsening weather and the high altitude, and local guides are still awaiting the arrival of rescue teams. The tragedy follows other recent Himalayan catastrophes, including a glacial collapse that left over 1,400 dead and numerous missing. The region is still battling a multi‑month crisis as relief efforts sift through debris and lost bodies on the Nepal‑Tibet frontier.

At least ten Nepali climbers are missing after a sudden avalanche struck a staging point at the Himlung Himal base camp in the Manang district on Sunday morning.

The avalanche hit as teams were setting up for a foreign climbing expedition. The mount, standing at 7,126 metres on the Nepal‑Tibet border, had recently experienced heavy snowfall that made the slopes treacherous.

Helicopter and ground rescue crews are hampered by poor weather, unable to reach the remote site. Local guides, including members of one company, were caught in the fall and have not been recovered yet.

Emergency officials in Nepal are coordinating with surrounding districts to locate the missing climbers. The mountain is a favourite base camp for summit attempts, and the incident has intensified concerns over safety in the high Himalayas.

Earlier this month, another pile‑of‑ice collapse in the Trishuli River valley had already claimed more than 1,400 lives, underscoring the region’s vulnerability to glacial and avalanche hazards. The latest incident is part of a series of tragedies that have tested Nepal’s rescue infrastructure.