Avalanche kills seven climbers in Nepal

At least seven climbers – five foreigners and two Nepalis – have been killed after being hit by an avalanche on Nepal’s Yalung Ri mountain in Dolakha district, officials have confirmed. The incident occurred at around 9am local time (3:15am GMT) on Monday near the mountain’s base camp, according to reports.

Rescue teams have recovered two bodies and continue to search for five others believed to be buried beneath deep snow. “The bodies of the other five deceased climbers may be 10–15 feet below the snow,” said Mingma Sherpa, chairman of expedition agency Seven Summit Treks, as reported by the BBC. Eight injured climbers have been flown to Kathmandu for treatment.

Those killed include two Italians, a Canadian, a German, a French national and two Nepali guides. The climbers were acclimatising on Yalung Ri (5,630m) before attempting nearby Dolma Khang (6,332 m), according to the Kathmandu Post.

One survivor told the paper: “Had the rescue arrived on time, more lives could have been saved.” Police official Gyan Kumar Mahato said rescue efforts were delayed by “poor weather and logistical issues”, which made it difficult for helicopters to reach the site.

The avalanche follows heavy snowfall triggered by Cyclone Montha, which has disrupted expeditions across Nepal. Recent snowstorms also stranded hundreds of trekkers near Mount Everest.

Autumn is Nepal’s busiest mountaineering season, but warming temperatures and unpredictable weather have heightened avalanche risk. According to climate researchers, extreme precipitation events in the Himalayas are becoming more frequent, increasing dangers even on lower-altitude peaks.

For the travel insurance and assistance sector, the tragedy underscores the importance of comprehensive high-altitude coverage, including helicopter evacuation and search and rescue costs. Insurers and brokers are urged to review policies carefully to ensure adequate protection for climbers engaging in extreme-altitude activities.