Disaster at High Altitude: At Least 10 Missing After Avalanche Sweeps Himlung Base Camp

KATHMANDU — At least 10 expedition members and support staff are missing after a massive avalanche struck the base camp of Himlung Himal in western Nepal near the border with Tibet on Sunday morning, September 27, 2026.

The disaster unfolded at the 7,126-meter peak in the Nar Phu area of Nepal's Manang district following days of relentless heavy snowfall and severe weather across the region. According to expedition organizers, the slide struck early in the morning, tearing through camp setups and burying multiple tents.

The Expedition Operators Association Nepal (EOAN) confirmed that the missing individuals belong to multiple climbing agencies, including eight support staff from Himalayan Holidays Nepal and two personnel from Imagine Nepal Treks. Organizers noted that while many climbing teams had already evacuated to lower elevations following weather warnings issued earlier in the week, some support crews and climbers remained at the site.

Search and rescue operations are being severely hindered by ongoing bad weather, high winds, and continuous snowfall, which have grounded helicopter flights and restricted ground access in the remote border region. Authorities and local expedition leaders are coordinating rescue efforts as they await a clear weather window to dispatch emergency personnel to the base camp.

Local district officials in Manang indicated that ground teams equipped with satellite communications are currently making their way on foot toward the affected area, though deep snow drifts and unstable slopes are significantly delaying their advance. High-altitude rescue teams trained in alpine recovery have been placed on standby at nearby staging areas, ready to launch air drops and extraction missions as soon as visibility improves.

The autumn climbing season in the Nepalese Himalayas has seen heightened activity this year, attracting hundreds of international mountaineers seeking to summit 7,000-meter peaks like Himlung Himal before the onset of winter conditions. Tourism authorities have reiterated safety warnings for all active expeditions across the region, advising teams in high camps to temporarily suspend ascents and seek secure shelter until atmospheric conditions stabilize.