At least 14 Nepalese climbers and support staff have gone missing following an avalanche that struck a base camp on the slopes of Himlung Himal on Sunday morning. The incident has left rescue teams unable to reach the site due to severe weather conditions that continue to hamper search-and-rescue operations across the region.
The avalanche hit a staging point in the Nar Phu region of Manang district, close to the Himlung Himal peak, which stands at 7,126 metres (23,380 feet) on Nepal's border with Tibet. According to reporting from the Kathmandu Post, the missing group comprised all Nepali members of the expedition, including Sherpas and support staff. The initial count of 10 missing was later revised upward to 14 after further details emerged.
Bibhuti Chand Thakur of Himalaya Holidays Trekking provided early information about the incident, stating:
"Eight members of our expedition team and two more from another company have been reported missing."The two companies involved in the expedition were identified as Himalaya Holidays Nepal and Imagine Nepal Treks.
Why were these climbers at the base camp?
The missing workers formed an advance team dispatched ahead of foreign climbers to prepare the route, fix ropes and establish the camp infrastructure. This support role is standard practice for commercial climbing expeditions in the Himalayas, allowing international mountaineers to arrive at a fully prepared site.
What weather conditions triggered the avalanche?
Heavy snowfall in recent days around the 7,126-metre peak created unstable conditions that led to the avalanche. Nepal's mountain districts have experienced persistent rain and snow, creating treacherous circumstances for the country's economically important climbing tourism sector. Poor weather has continued to prevent helicopter access to the site, significantly hampering rescue efforts.
What is the broader context for climbing accidents in Nepal?
This incident reflects an ongoing pattern of danger in Himalayan mountaineering. Climbers were forced to evacuate Mount Manaslu, the eighth highest peak in the world, earlier in the week due to rising avalanche threats. The latest incident comes less than two months after six Nepali climbers lost their lives on Broad Peak in Pakistan, including renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja.
Recovery efforts continue on the Nepal-Tibet border following a catastrophic flood and landslide in August. More than 1,400 people are confirmed dead after a glacial collapse in the Himalayas sent vast quantities of water and debris down the Trishuli River valley, sweeping away settlements. More than 6,000 people remain missing from that disaster.
How widespread are extreme weather events affecting Asia?
Severe weather has impacted multiple regions across Asia in recent days. Extreme weather in the neighbouring Indian region of Uttar Pradesh has killed more than 50 people, according to local officials. Bangkok has been placed under flood emergency alert due to heavy rainfall since Thursday, with residents urged to remain indoors or relocate to higher floors. Earlier in the week, a typhoon struck Tokyo, triggering landslides in neighbouring prefectures that claimed four lives.
Typhoon Dujuan represents the latest in a series of intense Pacific storms, with meteorologists attributing increased storm intensity to a "super El Niño" phenomenon—an area of warmer sea water that facilitates the formation of powerful tropical cyclones.
What happens next?
As of 27 September 2026, authorities were continuing to gather further details and coordinate search-and-rescue operations. According to Nepal News, no confirmed rescue or recovery updates had been reported at that time. Weather conditions remain the critical factor determining whether helicopter teams can access the avalanche site to locate the missing climbers and support staff.
Key Facts
- 14 Nepali climbers and support staff are missing after an avalanche on Himlung Himal in Manang district on Sunday morning
- The missing group included eight members from Himalaya Holidays Nepal and two from Imagine Nepal Treks, with the count later revised upward from initial reports of 10
- Heavy snowfall in recent days created unstable conditions; poor weather continues to prevent helicopter rescue operations from reaching the 7,126-metre peak
- This incident follows a pattern of climbing-related deaths in the region, including six fatalities on Broad Peak in Pakistan less than two months earlier
- Extreme weather across Asia has killed more than 50 people in India's Uttar Pradesh and triggered flood emergencies in Bangkok and landslides near Tokyo
