EKANTIPUR (Nepal), AFP (France), CNN (USA)
Rescue workers have resumed their search Monday morning for mountaineers trapped by an avalanche on Mount Manaslu in Nepal.
At least 11 people have been confirmed dead, reports Nepal’s Ekantipur news publication, including climbers from France, Spain, Germany and Nepal.
AFP reported that Christian Trommsdorff, the vice-president of the French mountain guides’ union, confirmed that two of the deceased were guides working in the Chamonix region of the French Alps.
Nepalese officials said the group of around 25 to 30 climbers were camped near the summit of the Himalayan mountain (7,300 meters above sea-level) in Nepal, Sunday, when the avalanche hit.
At least 13 climbers have been evacuated by air to a hospital in the capital, Kathmandu, with local sherpa guides continuing rescue efforts.
Rescue operations had been halted due to extremely bad weather and poor visibility, however they have now been resumed.
Mount Manaslu is the eighth largest mountain in the world and is considered to be one of the most dangerous.
CNN questioned whether the Himalayan Mountains have become too crowded. The news broadcaster reported of over-crowding on Mount Everest, with climbers subjected to frost bite and lack of oxygen after being forced to wait too long to summit, due to the growing popularity of commercial expeditions in the mountain range.
