The latest news from Himlung is devastating: The huge snowfall triggered an avalanche that buried Himlung Base Camp completely. So far, four bodies have been excavated, and hope is quickly fading to rescue any of the 16 people who were in Base Camp.
“There were a total of 14 kitchen staff members and two climbing guides with different companies,” the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association (NNMGA) reported. “The two guides have been found, but sadly, both were deceased.”
The victims were Chhebi Bhote and Pasang Bhote (found yesterday) and Birendra Gurung and Ghan Shyam Rai (found today).
Rescuers look for bodies at Himlung Base Camp today. Photo: NNMGA
Blue skies return
The weather finally cleared yesterday, permitting a helicopter to reach the area in the evening. Today, more personnel have reinforced the rescue efforts. Mingma G of Imagine Nepal leads the eight-member team. Once again, as on Broad Peak in late July, he has lost at least two members of his staff. With him are other Sherpa guides with IFMGA accreditation: Pasang Kaji Sherpa, Pimba Tenzing Bhote, Ashish Gurung, Tsering Pemba Sherpa, Bikram Karki, Dandu Sherpa, and Pasang Rinzi Sherpa.
Rescuers dig deeply on Himlung today. Photo: NNMGA
Video footage shows that over two meters of snow cover the flat plateau where Base Camp is located:
Not avalanche-prone
The NNMGA notes that the area is not especially avalanche-prone, yet meters of snow buried it. Gorskie Mapie of Poland has created a map of the area showing a gentle slope above Base Camp. All suggests a slide avalanche, in which fresh snow slid over frozen ground.
Location and direction of the avalanche toward Himlung’s BC; with the steepness indicated on a NASA map by Gorskie Mapie.
While hopes to find survivors fade, the question remains: What happened, why, and how can it be avoided in the future?
