Nepal avalanche kills 7, including 5 foreign climbers, 4 still missing

An avalanche struck near Nepal’s Yalung Ri base camp struck and killed five foreigners and two Nepalis on Nov. 3.

Four Nepali high-altitude workers remain missing.

The incident occurred at 8:30am local time in the Rolwaling mountain range of Dolakha district.

The expedition of 15 consisting of three French climbers, one Canadian, one Italian and ten Nepali workers were ascending the 5,630m Yalung Ri peak, according to The Kathmandu Post.

The group had originally planned to climb the 6,334m Dolma Kang peak but chose to climb Yalung Ri as part of an acclimatisation schedule.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Gyan Kumar Mahato said that the avalanche "buried everyone on the slope."

Rescue options impeded

Delayed information and poor weather conditions have hampered rescue operations.

Heavy snowfall and clouds prevented helicopters from reaching the site, as reported by BBC.

One injured climber told Kathmandu Post they had "shouted and cried for help".

The climber said they were told "a helicopter would come after four hours, but by then several of our friends were gone".

A rescue helicopter finally reached Na village where the survivors had been sheltering, on Monday evening.

Eight people have been rescued thus far and are receiving treatment in Kathmandu for their injuries, BBC reported.

Nepal's northeastern Rolwaling Valley had been showered with uninterrupted snow for days before tragedy struck.

The team had only set out after the weather cleared on Sunday, explained Mahato.

Top photo adapted from Rohit Tandon on Unsplash