9 climbers killed in Nepal
24 Sep 2012 11:05 PM GMT
At least nine persons, including foreign tourists, were killed and eight others went missing when an avalanche hit climbers on a Himalayan peak in Nepal on Sunday.
The avalanche hit a camp in Gorkha district, around 250 kms north-west from the Nepalese capital.
There were at least 50 people from different expeditions on the mountain when the avalanche hit the Camp III at Mt Manaslu situated at 7,300 metre altitude as the climbers heading towards the peak.
Nine dead bodies have been recovered which include a Sherpa guide and six foreigners, according to chairman of Himalayan Rescue Association Santa Subba.
Three of the dead have been identified as German national Christian Mitten Meyes, Spanish Marty Roig Gasull and Nepali Dawa Dorje Sherpa, according to Mohan Sapkota of Mountaineering Section of Tourism Ministry.
Six other dead bodies were still lying at the avalanche site on the mountain, and are yet to be brought to the base camp to be identified.
Eight foreign tourists, including five French climbers have gone missing after the incident, according to the Tourism Ministry official. ‘We have continued rescue operations till Sunday night and will continue further rescue works on Monday,’ he said.
More than 15 foreign tourists have been rescued from the site and they have been provided first aid after being brought back to the base camp, he said.
Five injured climbers have been airlifted to Kathmandu for further treatment, he added.
Three helicopters were dispatched and the Army, police and local rescue workers were mobilised to carry out rescue operations in the avalanche-hit area, officials said.
“Everything was normal and the weather was also clear as the climbers were heading towards the peak for making the summit next day, when the avalanche suddenly hit them,” an official said.
The avalanche hit a camp in Gorkha district, around 250 kms north-west from the Nepalese capital.
There were at least 50 people from different expeditions on the mountain when the avalanche hit the Camp III at Mt Manaslu situated at 7,300 metre altitude as the climbers heading towards the peak.
Nine dead bodies have been recovered which include a Sherpa guide and six foreigners, according to chairman of Himalayan Rescue Association Santa Subba.
Three of the dead have been identified as German national Christian Mitten Meyes, Spanish Marty Roig Gasull and Nepali Dawa Dorje Sherpa, according to Mohan Sapkota of Mountaineering Section of Tourism Ministry.
Six other dead bodies were still lying at the avalanche site on the mountain, and are yet to be brought to the base camp to be identified.
Eight foreign tourists, including five French climbers have gone missing after the incident, according to the Tourism Ministry official. ‘We have continued rescue operations till Sunday night and will continue further rescue works on Monday,’ he said.
More than 15 foreign tourists have been rescued from the site and they have been provided first aid after being brought back to the base camp, he said.
Five injured climbers have been airlifted to Kathmandu for further treatment, he added.
Three helicopters were dispatched and the Army, police and local rescue workers were mobilised to carry out rescue operations in the avalanche-hit area, officials said.
“Everything was normal and the weather was also clear as the climbers were heading towards the peak for making the summit next day, when the avalanche suddenly hit them,” an official said.
Next Story
