Climbers' Death Toll In Nepal Avalanche Reaches 11

Climbers' death toll in Nepal avalanche reaches 11 < br />

2012-09-25 10:27:32 GMT+7 (ICT)

KATHMANDU, NEPAL (BNO NEWS) -- The death toll has reached nine while a number of others remain missing after a group of foreign and national climbers were buried under an avalanche in Nepal, local authorities said Monday.

The avalanche occurred in the 8,848 meter-high (29,000 feet) Manaslu Peak in Nepal's Gorkha District at an altitude of around 7,300 meters (24,000 feet) at around 4 a.m. on Sunday. According to reports, a large piece of ice broke off a glacier, causing the avalanche which ultimately destroyed over 20 tents at the peak's camp-3, sweeping several people down the mountainside.

Bad weather condition forced rescue operations to be suspended on Sunday at around 3 p.m. local time. As of Monday morning, the deaths of eleven people were confirmed with Nepal Army and Police carrying out search-and-resce operations along with Simrik Air and Fishtail Air helicopters searching throughout the area.

Among the large group of over 200 climbers and guides were Germans, Italians and French nationals, as well as Sherpa guides, but the nationalities of those killed was not immediately available.

Former chairman of the Nepal Mountaineering Association Ang Tsering Sherpa confirmed the number of deaths, adding that avalanches on this scale were not common.

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