A severe avalanche on Himlung Himal on Sept. 27 buried a base camp under about 14 feet of snow, killing 15 Nepali workers and leaving one person missing. Rescue teams recovered seven bodies earlier in the week and eight more by Oct. 1; the recovered remains are expected to be flown to Kathmandu. The group included 14 kitchen staff and two climbing guides, and operations continue amid challenging high-altitude conditions. The disaster follows deadly flooding in Nepal roughly a month earlier.
Himlung Himal Avalanche Kills 15 Workers; One Still Missing After Base Camp Buried
NNMGA Search & Rescue team continues its operation in the Himlung avalanche area.Credit: Nepal National Mountain Guide Association
A powerful avalanche swept through a base camp on Himlung Himal in Nepal on Sept. 27, burying the site under about 14 feet of snow and killing 15 Nepali workers. Rescue teams recovered the bodies of 15 people by Oct. 1; one worker remains unaccounted for, officials said.
Recovery Efforts and Conditions
The group of 16 workers—reported to include 14 kitchen staff and two climbing guides—were preparing the camp for an upcoming expedition when the slide hit, according to the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association (NNMGA) and reporting cited by Reuters and The Tourist Times. The identities of the victims have not been publicly released.
"The bodies that were recovered today are expected to be brought by a helicopter to Kathmandu," Tul Singh Gurung, president of NNMGA, told Reuters, adding that harsh weather and terrain make it unlikely the missing worker will be found quickly.
NNMGA’s Search & Rescue team, working with local operator Himalayan Holidays, continued recovery operations under extremely difficult conditions. Photographs shared by rescuers show teams in full climbing gear moving through deep snow while using specialized equipment for high-altitude search and recovery.
NNMGA Search & Rescue Team, in coordination with Himalayan Holidays, continues the search and recovery operation under extremely difficult conditions.Credit: Nepal National Mountain Guide Association
Location and Context
Himlung Himal, an isolated peak that rises to about 23,379 feet (7,125 meters), is a destination for climbers seeking training and adventure. Local guiding companies describe it as remote and tranquil—making the scale of this tragedy especially stark.
The avalanche occurred roughly a month after catastrophic flooding in Nepal that killed more than 1,400 people and left thousands missing, with preliminary damage estimates in the billions of dollars. Authorities say multiple disasters this season have stretched Nepal's rescue and recovery resources.
Officials and rescue teams remain on site as weather, high-altitude conditions, and avalanche risk complicate further operations. Relatives of the victims and local authorities are awaiting the return of remains to Kathmandu for identification and final arrangements.
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