Rescuers engaged in a search operation on a mountainside in Nepal on Tuesday to locate the bodies of seven climbers who perished in an avalanche, confirmed officials. The tragic incident occurred at the base camp of Mount Yalung Ri, situated at an altitude of 4,900 meters, on Monday morning. Severe snowstorms initially impeded rescue efforts, but improved weather conditions on Tuesday allowed a helicopter carrying rescuers to land at the site.
The Dolkha district administration office reported that eight climbers injured in the avalanche were airlifted to Kathmandu, the capital, for medical treatment. This group included three French nationals and five individuals from Nepal. By Tuesday afternoon, authorities had recovered at least three bodies from the snow.
Global Affairs Canada disclosed that one of the deceased climbers was reportedly Canadian; however, due to privacy concerns, no further details could be provided.
Survivor Isabelle Solange Thaon, 54, recounted the harrowing experience of losing her husband, Christian Manfred, in the avalanche. She and another French climber, Didier Armand, managed to escape by leaping over rocks and maneuvering through the snow until rescue assistance arrived. Unfortunately, Thaon’s husband succumbed to head injuries caused by falling rocks.
The victims of the avalanche also included two Nepali mountain guides, while the identities of the remaining four deceased climbers remained unknown. Yalung Ri, a 5,600-meter peak, is often recommended for beginner mountaineers.
In a separate incident, the bodies of two missing Italian climbers were discovered on another mountain on Tuesday, as confirmed by Nepal’s Tourism Department. Alessandro Caputo and Stefano Farronato were climbing Panbari Peak when contact was lost on Friday, leading to a tragic end in heavy snowfall at Camp 1 (5,000 meters), according to Italy’s Foreign Ministry.