Rescue teams undertook a mission on a Nepalese mountain to locate the bodies of seven climbers who perished in an avalanche, officials disclosed. The tragic incident unfolded at the base camp of Mount Yalung Ri, situated at an elevation of 4,900 meters, on Monday morning. Adverse weather conditions hampered immediate access to the site, but a helicopter transporting rescuers managed to land on Tuesday following improved weather conditions.
The Dolkha district administration office reported that eight climbers injured in the avalanche were evacuated to Kathmandu for medical attention, which included three French nationals and five Nepali citizens. By Tuesday afternoon, authorities had recovered at least three bodies from the snow.
Global Affairs Canada acknowledged reports indicating that one of the deceased climbers was Canadian, although citing privacy concerns, no further details were provided. Surviving climber Isabelle Solange Thaon, 54, recounted the loss of her husband in the avalanche, but expressed gratitude for her survival alongside fellow French climber Didier Armand, emphasizing their fortunate positioning during the ordeal.
Tragically, the casualties also included two Nepali mountain guides, while the identities of the remaining four victims remained unknown. Mount Yalung Ri, a peak standing at 5,600 meters, is often recommended for novice mountaineers.
In a separate development, the bodies of two missing Italian climbers were discovered on another mountain, as confirmed by Nepal’s Tourism Department. Alessandro Caputo and Stefano Farronato lost contact while ascending Panbari Peak, with Italian authorities revealing that adverse weather conditions had impacted their expedition at Camp 1 (5,000 meters).
