Foreign climbers among seven killed in Nepal avalanche

An avalanche swept away a camp on Yalung Ri Mountain, killing five foreign climbers and two Nepali guides, officials said.

Armed Police Force spokesman Shailendra Thapa said five more people were injured at the base camp, located at an altitude of 4,900 metres.

The nationalities and identities of the foreign climbers have not yet been confirmed.

The weather has been worsening in Nepal since last week and snowstorms have been reported in the mountains.

Rescue teams were reaching the scene on foot.

A rescue helicopter attempted to reach the area, but bad weather forced it to turn back.

Thapa said he would try again at dawn on Tuesday.

Yalung Ri Mountain is a 5600 meter peak.

It is considered a mountain for beginners who have no previous experience in climbing high mountains.

Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains, including Mount Everest.

Spring is the most popular climbing season when the weather is suitable at the higher peaks.

However, during the autumn months between the rainy monsoon months and winter, hundreds of foreign climbers come to climb smaller peaks.