An avalanche at a Himalayan base camp has killed 15 Nepali workers who were preparing for the arrival of foreign climbers, exposing the risks faced by the guides and support staff who establish expedition sites before climbing teams reach the mountain.
The avalanche struck on Sept. 27 at the base camp of Himlung Himal, a 7,126-metre (23,379-foot) mountain in the northern Manang district of central Nepal. Sixteen Nepali workers were at the site, pitching tents and fixing ropes when the avalanche hit.
About 14 feet of snow suddenly covered the camp, burying the workers. The group included climbing guides and support staff involved in organising expeditions on the mountain. The foreign climbers for whom the site was being prepared had not reached the base camp when the avalanche occurred.
Rescue teams have worked at the site since the avalanche, facing dangerous terrain, deep snow and poor weather. Seven bodies were retrieved earlier in the week. Rescuers recovered eight more bodies from beneath the snow on Thursday.
By Oct. 1, rescuers had recovered 15 bodies. One worker remained missing.
Officials said severe conditions on the mountain could make further searches difficult. Tul Singh Gurung, president of Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, said the chances of finding the missing worker were dim and that the rescue operation was likely to wind up.
Himlung Himal is a remote peak in central Nepal that rises more than 23,000 feet and draws climbers from around the world. Preparing a base camp is a key stage of an expedition, with Nepali guides and support staff usually carrying out the work before foreign climbing teams arrive for the season.
The avalanche is the deadliest incident of the autumn climbing season ending this month.
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