Rescue teams in Nepal worked tirelessly on Tuesday to recover the bodies of seven climbers who tragically lost their lives in an avalanche, according to authorities. The avalanche struck the base camp at Mount Yalung Ri, situated at an elevation of 4,900 meters, on Monday morning. Weather conditions initially hampered rescue efforts, but improved on Tuesday, allowing a helicopter to land with rescuers.
The Dolkha district administration office confirmed that eight other climbers injured in the avalanche were airlifted to Kathmandu for medical treatment, including three French and five Nepali nationals. By Tuesday afternoon, three bodies had been successfully retrieved from the snow, as reported by the police.
Global Affairs Canada acknowledged reports that one of the deceased climbers was Canadian but cited privacy concerns for withholding further details in an email to CBC News on Tuesday.
Survivor Isabelle Solange Thaon, 54, recounted losing her husband, Christian Manfred, in the avalanche but expressed gratitude for surviving alongside another French climber, Didier Armand. Thaon described their harrowing experience of dodging rocks and navigating through the snow until rescue assistance arrived.
Additionally, two Nepali mountain guides were among the fatalities, while the identities of the other four deceased climbers remained unknown. Yalung Ri, standing at 5,600 meters, is recognized as a beginner-friendly peak for aspiring mountaineers.
In a separate incident, the bodies of two missing Italian climbers were recovered on Tuesday on a different mountain, as confirmed by Nepal’s Tourism Department. The Italian Foreign Ministry verified the deaths of Alessandro Caputo and Stefano Farronato, who were on an expedition to Panbari Peak when communication was lost due to heavy snowfall at Camp 1 (5,000 meters).