Rizky Amelia
Rescue teams in Nepal resumed their search on Monday for 12 people still unaccounted for after a devastating avalanche struck Mount Himlung, a 7,126-metre (23,380-foot) peak in the country's north-central region. The disaster, which occurred on Sunday, has claimed at least two lives and left more than a dozen expedition workers missing in one of the most treacherous climbing environments in the Himalayas.
According to Tul Singh Gurung, president of the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, two bodies were recovered as rescuers worked until 6pm local time (12:30 GMT) on Sunday evening. "The search continues for 14 expedition workers who are still missing," Gurung told AFP, though subsequent reports indicated that the number of missing had been revised to 12 after some individuals were located. A team of eight mountain guides is currently involved in the search operation, navigating difficult terrain and challenging weather conditions.
The remains of the two individuals who lost their lives were airlifted on Monday to Kathmandu airport and subsequently transported to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. Family members and friends of the deceased climbers gathered at the hospital morgue to receive the bodies, according to images captured by The Associated Press.
All those killed or missing in the avalanche were Nepali nationals, highlighting the often-overlooked risks faced by local support staff who make high-altitude expeditions possible for foreign clients. The avalanche struck as the workers were at base camp preparing for international clients to arrive and begin their climb during Nepal's autumn climbing season, which commenced earlier this month.
The disaster unfolded amid severe weather conditions that have battered the Himalayan nation in recent days. Flooding and landslides were reported in the Manang district, where Mount Himlung is located, over the weekend, both triggered by heavy rainfall according to the district administration. The avalanche occurred as the government had already issued warnings of severe weather across the entire country.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) reported that 21 other people were killed and five more remain missing in various parts of Nepal between Thursday and Sunday, underscoring the widespread impact of the extreme weather system. These figures do not include the victims of the Mount Himlung avalanche, adding to an already staggering toll.
Nepal is still reeling from devastating flooding in August that swept away entire villages and claimed more than 1,400 lives. According to the NDRRMA, approximately 5,500 people remain missing from those floods, while 13,795 individuals have been rescued. The scale of the August disaster has strained the country's emergency response capabilities and left communities across the nation struggling to recover.
Researchers from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group released a report last week concluding that the catastrophic flooding was not the result of a single extreme weather event. Instead, scientists characterized it as a "compound crisis" shaped by long-term warming, glacier retreat, permafrost thaw, and underlying geological instability. This analysis points to the broader implications of climate change for a country that is home to eight of the world's fourteen highest peaks.
The autumn climbing season in Nepal typically attracts mountaineers from around the globe seeking to summit some of the most challenging peaks in the Himalayas. Mount Himlung, while not among the most famous of Nepal's mountains, presents significant challenges with its technical terrain and extreme altitude. The presence of expedition workers at base camp ahead of foreign clients' arrival reflects the standard preparation that occurs before commercial climbing expeditions commence.
The Nepal National Mountain Guide Association has been coordinating with rescue efforts, though the harsh conditions at high altitude complicate search operations. Helicopter rescue missions in the Himalayas are frequently hampered by unpredictable weather, thin air, and the inherent dangers of flying in mountainous terrain. Ground teams face their own challenges, including the risk of secondary avalanches and the physical toll of operating at extreme elevations.
The government's issuance of severe weather warnings across the Himalayan nation before the avalanche suggests some level of preparedness, yet the sheer scale of the disaster has overwhelmed local resources. The combination of flooding, landslides, and now an avalanche within a short timeframe has created a multi-front emergency that tests Nepal's disaster response infrastructure.
The timing of the avalanche — during the autumn climbing season — raises questions about safety protocols and risk assessment in Nepal's mountaineering industry. While the spring season is traditionally more popular for high-altitude expeditions, the autumn season still draws climbers seeking to avoid the crowds and take advantage of favourable conditions. However, the increasing unpredictability of weather patterns linked to climate change is making mountain conditions more hazardous.
The tragedy also draws attention to the risks borne by Nepali expedition workers, who often face greater dangers than the foreign clients they support. These workers, including guides, porters, and base camp staff, play an essential role in the climbing industry but frequently lack the same insurance coverage, equipment, and recognition as their international counterparts. The fact that all victims in this avalanche were Nepali nationals underscores this disparity.
As rescue operations continue, the broader context of Nepal's vulnerability to climate-related disasters remains a pressing concern. The WWA report's findings about glacier retreat and permafrost thaw indicate that the conditions that contributed to the August floods are part of a longer-term pattern that could lead to more frequent and severe disasters in the future. For a country whose economy relies significantly on mountain tourism, the implications are profound.
The search for the missing expedition workers is expected to continue in the coming days, though weather conditions will ultimately determine the pace of operations. The Nepali government faces the dual challenge of responding to the immediate crisis while also addressing the underlying vulnerabilities that make such disasters increasingly common. For the families of the victims and the missing, the wait for news is agonizing as rescuers work against the clock in one of the world's most unforgiving environments.
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