Avalanche Hits Himalayan Base Camp, Ten Climber Guides Missing

Sun Sep 27 2026 15:14:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A sudden avalanche on Himlung Himal left ten Nepali climbers missing, disrupting an expedition and highlighting the growing danger in the region.

A heavy avalanche struck a base camp near Himlung Himal on Sunday morning, leaving ten Nepali climbers—eight from a local expedition team and two from another company—reportedly missing. The incident occurred amid forecasts of significant snowfall in the 7,126‑metre peak, which lies on the Nepal‑Tibet border. Rescue efforts have been hampered by poor weather, preventing helicopters and ground teams from reaching the site. The tragedy follows a string of recent mountaineering disasters in the region, underscoring the escalating risks to the bustling tourism industry.

At least ten Nepali climbers were reported missing after an avalanche hit a base camp in the Himalayas on Sunday. The missing climbers, who were preparing to lead an expedition, were standing at a staging point near the Himlung Himal peak in Manang district when the snow slide struck.

Forecasts had warned of heavy snowfall around the 7,126‑metre (23,380‑ft) peak in recent days. The mountain lies on Nepal’s border with Tibet and has been a popular spot for international climbers.

Weather conditions have made rescue operations difficult, as helicopters and ground teams have been unable to reach the site. Bibhuti Chand Thakur, of Himalaya Holidays Trekking, told AFP news agency that the team and two additional climbers from another company were missing.

The Nepali team had been positioned ahead of foreign climbers to prepare the camp, manage routes, and fix ropes on the mountain, but the avalanche removed them abruptly.

In recent days, Nepal’s mountain districts have seen persistent rain and snow, creating treacherous conditions for the country’s climbing tourism industry, which is a major source of income.

Climbers were forced to abandon their ascent of Mount Manaslu—a peak ranked eighth in height worldwide—earlier this week due to the escalating threat of avalanches.

This latest loss comes less than two months after six climbers died on Broad Peak in Pakistan, including renowned British‑Neaplic mountaineer Nirmal Purja.

The severe weather has also taken over 50 lives in the Indian region of Uttar Pradesh, officials said, and the recovery of bodies continues along the Nepal‑Tibet border, where more than 6,000 people remain missing after a massive August flood and landslide.

The recent tragedy highlights how recent glacial collapse in the Himalaya has sent vast quantities of water and debris down rivers, sweeping away settlements and killing more than 1,400 people.