Race Against Time
Seven Climbers Die in Deadly Avalanche in Nepal
Horrific tragedy claims at least 7 lives, with 4 others injured and another 4 missing.
An avalanche struck the base camp of Yalung Ri (5,630 meters / 18,438 feet) in Nepal's Dolakha district around midday Monday, killing at least seven climbers: five foreign nationals (three Americans, one Canadian, one Italian) and two Nepali guides.
Four others were injured and airlifted to hospitals in Kathmandu for treatment, while four remain missing amid ongoing search efforts hampered by severe weather.
The base camp, at approximately 5,000 meters (16,400 feet), serves climbers attempting nearby Dolma Khang (6,332 meters / 20,774 feet), a popular route for intermediate expeditions.
Heavy snowfall and deteriorating conditions in the Himalayas triggered the slide, with visibility so poor that a Nepal Army rescue helicopter was forced to abort its initial approach.
Ground teams from the Nepal Police and Army are continuing operations on foot, with plans to resume full searches at dawn Tuesday.
Victims and Response
Deceased: Identities not fully released, but confirmed as three U.S. citizens, one Canadian, one Italian, and two Nepali nationals (likely Sherpa guides).
Injured: Four climbers rescued with non-life-threatening injuries; all stable in Kathmandu hospitals.
Missing: Four unaccounted for; efforts focus on the debris field.
Nepal’s Tourism Department confirmed the group was on a permitted expedition, but no further details on nationalities or expedition organizer were shared pending family notifications.
The fall climbing season (September-November) draws hundreds to Nepal’s peaks, but avalanches are a rising risk due to climate change and heavier monsoons destabilizing snowpack.
This is Nepal’s deadliest climbing incident of 2025, surpassing a July avalanche on Manaslu that killed three.
The Himalayas have seen over 30 fatalities this year from avalanches, falls, and altitude sickness.
Authorities urge climbers to heed weather warnings, as fall storms have intensified.Rescue operations continue; updates expected Tuesday morning. Condolences from mountaineering communities worldwide, with calls for enhanced safety protocols.