The bodies of nine climbers who died when a violent snowstorm destroyed their camp on a Himalayan peak in Nepal have been retrieved.
The five South Koreans and four Nepali guides were found scattered across the base camp near Mount Gurja, a 7,193m high peak (23,600ft).
They were found to have suffered broken bones and head wounds in Friday’s storm.
The incident is the worst climbing accident to hit Nepal in two years.
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The crew of a rescue helicopter began retrieving the victims on Sunday, after attempts the day before were halted by strong winds.
“It seems that seracs [glacial ice] and snow fell from high on the mountain and the strong gusts of winds from that hit the campsite, throwing the climbers off,” one rescuer, Suraj Paduyal told news wire AFP.
“The camp was completely destroyed,” the BBC heard from Myagdi district official Liladhar Adhikari.
“We assume that the camp may have been set up at a higher altitude than normal, but we will know what exactly happened after a thorough investigation.”
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Expedition organisers raised the alarm after losing contact with the group, which set off on 7 October, for nearly 24 hours.
The bodies were brought to Nepal’s Pokhara airport and flown to Kathmandu TU Teaching hospital by helicopter.
Grieving relatives received the bodies of the local Nepalese guides.
The bodies of nine climbers who died when a violent snowstorm destroyed their camp on a Himalayan peak in Nepal have been retrieved.
The five South Koreans and four Nepali guides were found scattered across the base camp near Mount Gurja, a 7,193m high peak (23,600ft).
They were found to have suffered broken bones and head wounds in Friday’s storm.
The incident is the worst climbing accident to hit Nepal in two years.
Frozen in time on Everest
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The crew of a rescue helicopter began retrieving the victims on Sunday, after attempts the day before were halted by strong winds.
“It seems that seracs [glacial ice] and snow fell from high on the mountain and the strong gusts of winds from that hit the campsite, throwing the climbers off,” one rescuer, Suraj Paduyal told news wire AFP.
“The camp was completely destroyed,” the BBC heard from Myagdi district official Liladhar Adhikari.
“We assume that the camp may have been set up at a higher altitude than normal, but we will know what exactly happened after a thorough investigation.”
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Expedition organisers raised the alarm after losing contact with the group, which set off on 7 October, for nearly 24 hours.
The bodies were brought to Nepal’s Pokhara airport and flown to Kathmandu TU Teaching hospital by helicopter.
Grieving relatives received the bodies of the local Nepalese guides.
The bodies of nine climbers who died when a violent snowstorm destroyed their camp on a Himalayan peak in Nepal have been retrieved.
The five South Koreans and four Nepali guides were found scattered across the base camp near Mount Gurja, a 7,193m high peak (23,600ft).
They were found to have suffered broken bones and head wounds in Friday’s storm.
The incident is the worst climbing accident to hit Nepal in two years.
Frozen in time on Everest
Climber dies on eighth Everest attempt
The crew of a rescue helicopter began retrieving the victims on Sunday, after attempts the day before were halted by strong winds.
“It seems that seracs [glacial ice] and snow fell from high on the mountain and the strong gusts of winds from that hit the campsite, throwing the climbers off,” one rescuer, Suraj Paduyal told news wire AFP.
“The camp was completely destroyed,” the BBC heard from Myagdi district official Liladhar Adhikari.
“We assume that the camp may have been set up at a higher altitude than normal, but we will know what exactly happened after a thorough investigation.”
Sherpa to make record 22nd Everest bid
‘Chronicler of the Himalayas’ dies at 94
Expedition organisers raised the alarm after losing contact with the group, which set off on 7 October, for nearly 24 hours.
The bodies were brought to Nepal’s Pokhara airport and flown to Kathmandu TU Teaching hospital by helicopter.
Grieving relatives received the bodies of the local Nepalese guides.