Fierce snowstorms and an avalanche in Nepal's Himalayas have killed nine people, including five Italians. Seven climbers were killed when an avalanche struck Yalung Ri base camp; survivors were airlifted to Kathmandu. Separately, two Italians died on Panbari after heavy snowfall. Cyclone Montha worsened conditions, and avalanches account for about a third of the 1,093 recorded Himalayan expedition deaths since 1950.
Deadly Himalayan Storms and Avalanche Kill Nine in Nepal — Five Victims Were Italian
Fierce snowstorms and an avalanche in Nepal's Himalayas have killed nine people, including five Italians. Seven climbers were killed when an avalanche struck Yalung Ri base camp; survivors were airlifted to Kathmandu. Separately, two Italians died on Panbari after heavy snowfall. Cyclone Montha worsened conditions, and avalanches account for about a third of the 1,093 recorded Himalayan expedition deaths since 1950.
18:52, 04.11.2025Society
Fierce snowstorms and an avalanche claim nine lives in Nepal's Himalayas
Days of violent snowstorms and a powerful avalanche in Nepal's high Himalayas have left nine people dead, officials said Tuesday. Five of the victims have been identified as Italian climbers.
The fatalities occurred in two separate incidents that began on Friday. On Monday, an avalanche struck a party of 12 at the base camp of Yalung Ri, a 5,630-metre (18,471-foot) peak in central Nepal near the border with China.
Expedition organiser Phurba Tenjing Sherpa of Dreamers Destination said seven people were killed in the avalanche: three Italians, two Nepali guides, one German and one French climber. "I have seen all seven bodies," he told AFP. Several survivors were airlifted to Kathmandu the following morning for treatment.
Survivors' accounts
"Suddenly we heard a loud noise, and the slabs came crashing down, and we were caught in them,"
French climber Didier Armand Berton, 61, told AFP from a hospital bed where he was recovering from broken ribs. He said he and other survivors jumped over a 4–5 metre rock face and helped dig out a guide using an ice axe.
French climber Christian Manfredi, 69, died after a rock struck his head, his wife Isabelle Thaon, 54, said from hospital. Thaon described the avalanche as feeling like "a wave of snow" and credited her swimming ability with helping her survive.
Separate tragedy on Panbari
In western Nepal, two Italian climbers — later named by Italy's foreign ministry as Alessandro Caputo and Stefano Farronato — died while attempting to climb Panbari (6,887 metres / 22,595 feet). Local authorities said the men were overtaken by heavy snowfall at Camp 1, around 5,000 metres, after losing contact on Friday.
Nepal, home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks including Mount Everest, draws hundreds of climbers and trekkers each year. Autumn is the second most popular climbing season, despite colder, shorter days and a narrower summit window than spring.
Rescue teams say conditions were worsened this season by Cyclone Montha, which brought heavy rain and snowfall across the region and left trekkers stranded on several popular routes.
Context: According to the Himalayan Database, at least 1,093 people have died on Himalayan peaks since 1950; avalanches account for almost one-third of those fatalities.
Authorities and organisers: Local police and expedition companies continue to assist survivors and investigate the incidents. Families of the deceased have been notified, and hospital teams are treating the injured.