Rescue teams are searching for 14 individuals missing after an avalanche struck Mount Himlung in Nepal, killing at least two others during severe weather on Sunday.
The two bodies were airlifted to Kathmandu on Monday and taken to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. “Two bodies were found as rescuers worked until 6pm last night,” stated Tul Singh Gurung, president of the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association.
Eight mountain guides are currently involved in the search operation. All those affected are Nepali nationals who were at a base camp preparing for foreign climbers ahead of the autumn season.
The area has reported flooding and landslides over the weekend due to heavy rainfall, as confirmed by local authorities. The avalanche comes amid government warnings of severe weather across Nepal.
Over the same weekend, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) reported that 21 people were killed and five others are missing in various parts of the country.
Nepal is also grappling with the aftermath of devastating floods in August that resulted in more than 1,400 deaths and destroyed numerous villages. According to NDRRMA, 5,500 people remain unaccounted for, while 13,795 have been rescued.
Researchers from the World Weather Attribution group recently indicated that the recent disasters are linked to long-term climate issues such as global warming, glacier retreat, and geological instability.
