A deadly avalanche tore through a climbing camp high on Nepal’s Mount Yalung Ri, killing seven people including three Italians and injuring five others as brutal weather battered the Himalayas.
The avalanche hit a group of 12 people at the base camp of 5,630-metre (18,471-foot) Yalung Ri peak on Monday morning.
According to reports a German and a French climber also died along with two Nepalis, rescuers have been struggling to reach the remote base camp, which sits at more than 16,000 feet, after heavy snow and fierce winds forced a rescue helicopter to turn back.
Authorities say the avalanche struck on Monday following reports of deteriorating weather and snowstorms, catching the climbers off guard at their base camp on Mount Yalung Ri.
Rescue teams are now making the dangerous journey to the site on foot after weather grounded helicopters. Officials say aircraft will make another attempt Tuesday morning.
Mount Yalung Ri, which rises about 18,370 feet above sea level, is often considered a good starting peak for those new to high-altitude climbing. However, in the Himalayas, even “beginner” mountains can turn deadly when the weather takes a turn.
Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 14 tallest peaks, including Mount Everest.
Spring usually brings the best conditions, but foreign climbers have been known to climb smaller peaks during autumn between the rainy monsoon months and winter.