Avalanche in Nepal Results in Deaths of 15 Expedition Workers

Rescuers recovered eight more bodies on Thursday from the area of the avalanche that swept through a mountain camp in central Nepal. A Himalayan avalanche killed at least 15 expedition workers as rescuers continued efforts to recover bodies from the site. The avalanche occurred early on Sunday at the base camp of the 7,126-metre (23,345-foot) Himlung peak, marking one of the worst mountain disasters in recent years. Nepali workers were pitching tents and fixing ropes for later expeditions on the mountain, which is located near the Chinese border. Tul Singh Gurung, president of the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, stated that rescuers have so far recovered 15 bodies from the site. "The bodies that were recovered today are expected to be brought by a helicopter to Kathmandu," Gurung told Reuters. He noted that the chances of finding one missing worker were slim and that the rescue operation is likely to conclude soon. The foreign climbers had not reached the site at the time of the avalanche. A team of eleven rescuers, including experienced guides, were at the site digging through more than four metres (14 feet) of snow that had buried tents at the base camp. The bodies of two mountain guides were recovered on Sunday, followed by two kitchen staff on Monday, and another three bodies on Tuesday. Nepal has experienced significant mountaineering disasters in recent years, including a 2014 avalanche that killed 16 people on Everest and a 2015 earthquake that resulted in 18 deaths, also on Everest. Authorities are still searching for bodies from devastating floods caused by a mountain glacial collapse on August 26, which killed more than 1,400 people and left over 5,000 missing. Heavy rain since Thursday has triggered additional floods and landslides, resulting in at least 21 fatalities, according to the national disaster agency. Nepal's economy relies heavily on mountaineering and trekking tourism, and Himlung is a popular destination for climbers aiming to ascend 7,000-metre peaks.