German climber dies in Nepalese avalanche
A German mountaineer was among nine people killed in Nepal when they were buried by an avalanche on one of the world's most deadly mountains.
Most of the other climbers are belived to have been French, with at least one Spaniard, one Italian and a local Nepalese guide also among the dead, officials said on Sunday.
The group were near the top of Manaslu ahead of a final push to the 8,156-metre (26,759 feet) summit when they were hit by a wall of snow on Saturday night, police said.
Three climbers from a group of about 25 were thought to still be missing when rescue operations were called off for the night.
Police said several injured climbers were stuck at base camp because rescue helicopters could not fly due to poor visibility.
Manaslu, the eighth highest mountain in the world, is considered one of the most dangerous, with scores of deaths in recent years and just a few hundred successful ascents.
Nepal is home to eight of the world's 14 peaks over 8,000 metres, including the world's highest, Mount Everest, and attracts thousands of mountaineers every year.
Most come in the spring, when Himalayan conditions are at their best, but there is also a short climbing season in late September and October after the monsoon rains end.
AFP/TheLocal/rc
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Most of the other climbers are belived to have been French, with at least one Spaniard, one Italian and a local Nepalese guide also among the dead, officials said on Sunday.
The group were near the top of Manaslu ahead of a final push to the 8,156-metre (26,759 feet) summit when they were hit by a wall of snow on Saturday night, police said.
Three climbers from a group of about 25 were thought to still be missing when rescue operations were called off for the night.
Police said several injured climbers were stuck at base camp because rescue helicopters could not fly due to poor visibility.
Manaslu, the eighth highest mountain in the world, is considered one of the most dangerous, with scores of deaths in recent years and just a few hundred successful ascents.
Nepal is home to eight of the world's 14 peaks over 8,000 metres, including the world's highest, Mount Everest, and attracts thousands of mountaineers every year.
Most come in the spring, when Himalayan conditions are at their best, but there is also a short climbing season in late September and October after the monsoon rains end.
AFP/TheLocal/rc
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