Rescuers in Nepal worked diligently on Tuesday to recover the bodies of seven climbers who tragically lost their lives in an avalanche on Mount Yalung Ri. The avalanche struck the base camp at an elevation of 4,900 meters on Monday morning. Poor weather conditions initially hindered rescue efforts, but a helicopter carrying rescuers was able to land at the site on Tuesday after the skies cleared.
Officials from the Dolkha district administration office reported that eight climbers who sustained injuries during the avalanche were airlifted to Kathmandu for medical treatment. This group included three French nationals and five Nepali climbers. By Tuesday afternoon, three bodies had been recovered from the snow, according to the police.
Global Affairs Canada confirmed that one of the deceased climbers was Canadian but did not disclose further details due to privacy concerns. Surviving climber 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 survive by leaping over rocks and navigating through the snow until rescuers arrived.
Tragically, two Nepali mountain guides were among the fatalities, while the identities of the other four deceased climbers remained unknown. Mount Yalung Ri, a 5,600-meter peak, is often recommended for beginner climbers.
In a separate incident, the bodies of two missing Italian climbers, Alessandro Caputo and Stefano Farronato, were recovered on Tuesday on another mountain in Nepal. The climbers had been ascending Panbari Peak when communication was lost last Friday, with heavy snowfall reported at Camp 1 (5,000 meters) where their compatriots were stranded.