The avalanche occurred weeks after flooding left more than 1,400 people dead and thousands more missing in Nepal
Credit: Nepal National Mountain Guide Association – NNMGA/Facebook
NEED TO KNOW
- Four bodies were recovered, and a dozen people remain missing after an avalanche hit a Nepalese mountain on Sept. 27
- Teams were able to rescue 10 people from the 23,380-foot peak
- The search and rescue operation is ongoing
At least four people are dead, and a dozen others are missing after an avalanche struck a mountain in Nepal over the weekend.
On Sunday, Sept. 27, a cascade of snow and ice barreled down Mount Himlung, a 23,380-foot peak in the north-central part of the country, as Nepali workers were making preparations at base camp for climbers arriving later this week, CBS News CNN and the Associated Press(AP) reported.
Credit: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty
That same day, two people were found dead, and the remains of two other victims were found on Monday, Sept. 28, according to the reports. Ten people were rescued and brought down the mountain by helicopter, while 12 others remain missing.
“The search operation is continuing, with the team working for another 3–4 hours, conditions permitting,” the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association (NNMGA) search and rescue team said in an update on Monday. “Our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all those who lost their lives in this tragic incident.”
The organization added that the “team remains committed to continuing the search and rescue operation until the mission is completed.”
The deadly avalanche comes amid reports of landslides and flooding in the Manang district following intense rainfall, CBS News reported. Other parts of the country are also experiencing dangerous weather alerts.
Separately, 21 people have died, five were injured, and five are missing after heavy rainfall struck different sections of Nepal, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said in a statement.
The agency did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment about Sunday’s avalanche.
Credit: Nepal National Mountain Guide Association – NNMGA/Facebook
Last month, Nepal faced another natural disaster when flooding tore through residential areas, leaving more than 1,400 dead and almost 6,000 people missing, the AP reported. The damage is estimated to have cost around $2.56 billion, the outlet reported in early September.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“It is a wasteland out there,” Sumnima Udas, a member of Parliament and head of a committee focused on tourism and international relations, told the AP. “The rebuilding is not going to be easy.”
Read the full article here
