In brief
A sudden avalanche at the base camp of Himlung Himal has left 10 Nepali climbers missing, deepening concerns over the safety of mountaineering in a region that has seen persistent snowfall and heavy rainfall. Rescue teams are impeded by adverse weather, leaving the missing climbers in precarious isolation. The tragedy joins a series of recent Himalayan disasters linked to climate‑driven events, raising alarms for the tourism sector that relies on climbing expeditions.
An avalanche struck the base camp of Himlung Himal in Nepal’s Manang district, leaving 10 local climbers preparing for a future expedition missing.
Organizers of the trip reported that the local guides were at a staging area near the 7,126‑metre peak when heavy snowfall the previous days turned into a sudden slide.
Rescue teams and helicopters have been hampered by poor weather, preventing access to the site and prolonging the search for the missing climbers.
The incident comes amid a broader pattern of extreme weather events in the Himalayas, where persistent rain and snow are creating treacherous conditions that threaten the region’s climbing tourism industry.
Further reflections link the avalanche to recent failures in the region, such as the 2024 disaster at Broad Peak, and highlight the compounded risks from glacial collapse and flooding that continue to claim lives and sweep apart communities.
