Four bodies have been recovered from the site of an avalanche that struck the Himlung Himal Base Camp in Nepal, with 12 people still missing as search and rescue operations continue.
The avalanche struck on September 27, at the base camp of the 7,126-metre Himlung Himal in the Nar Phu area of Manang district. The victims were Nepali high-altitude workers and guides who were preparing the mountain for the autumn climbing season.
The Nepal National Mountain Guide Association (NNMGA) said two bodies were recovered on Monday, a day after two others were found at the site.
The victims recovered on Monday were identified as Birendra Gurung and Ghanshyam Rai, while those recovered on Sunday were identified as **Chhebi Bhote and Pasang Bhote.
The avalanche buried tents housing expedition support staff at the base camp. Workers and guides from expedition companies had travelled to the mountain about two weeks earlier to prepare climbing routes and the base camp ahead of the autumn season.
A 14-member search and rescue team led by international mountain guide Mingma G Sherpa was deployed to the base camp by helicopter on Monday. The team includes experienced high-altitude guides searching areas where the missing workers and guides are believed to be located.
The operation has been complicated by poor weather and difficult conditions on the mountain. The NNMGA said the team planned to continue searching for another three to four hours if weather and ground conditions remained favourable.
The bodies recovered earlier were transported from Chame Hospital to Kathmandu and taken to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.
Search operations are expected to continue as rescuers work to locate the 12 people still missing following the avalanche.
