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Nepal avalanche kills four trekkers in mountain pass, with dozens still missing Nepal avalanche kills at least 12 trekkers in mountain pass, with dozens still missing
(about 4 hours later)
An avalanche on a mountain pass in northern Nepal has killed four trekkers from Poland, Israel and Nepal, officials have confirmed. An avalanche and blizzard in Nepal's mountainous north have killed at least 12 people, including foreign trekkers, as weather conditions improved.
Nepalese army official Niranjan Shrestha said rescuers recovered the bodies, including two Poles, from the Thorong La pass, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) northwest of the capital, Kathmandu. Officials said that three villagers were killed Monday in the same district, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) northwest of the capital, Kathmandu, and their bodies were recovered on Wednesday.
The avalanche hit the area on Tuesday, but with the area covered in 1-meter (3-foot) -deep snowfall, it took army rescuers from nearby training camps several hours to get there. The rescuers managed to bring to safety to Jomsom town several other trekkers. Their numbers and nationalities weren't immediately disclosed. In the neighboring Mustang district, four trekkers caught in a blizzard died on Tuesday. Rescuers recovered the bodies of the two Poles, one Israeli and one Nepali trekker from the Thorong La pass area.
Officials reached by telephone in Jomsom could not say how many trekkers were still stranded by the avalanche because communication was poor. It was initially thought the group had been caught in an avalanche, but government official Yam Bahadur Chokyal said by telephone from Mustang that the four trekkers instead had been caught in the blizzard and died.
The weather cleared up on Wednesday, allowing rescuers and trekkers to reach safer grounds, officials said. He said another 14 foreign trekkers have been rescued so far, and two army helicopters were picking up injured trekkers and flying them to Jomsom town.
Last week's cyclone in neighboring India has triggered rains and snow in Nepal's northern mountains. Chokyal said it was not possible to say how many trekkers were still on the route stranded by the deep snow but several of them have reached safe ground on Wednesday because of improved weather.
October is the most popular trekking season in Nepal, with thousands of foreigners on hiking trips around Nepal's Himalayan mountain. The rain and snow in Nepal were caused by a cyclone that hit neighboring India several days ago.
The Thorong La pass is also on the route that circles Mount Annapurna, the world's tenth highest peak. October is the most popular trekking season in Nepal, with thousands of foreigners hiking around Nepal's Himalayan mountains.
The Thorong La pass is also on the route that circles Mount Annapurna, the world's 10th highest peak.
An avalanche in April just above the base camp on Mount Everest killed 16 Nepalese guides, the deadliest single disaster on the mountain. Climate experts say rising global temperatures have contributed to avalanches on the Himalayan mountains.An avalanche in April just above the base camp on Mount Everest killed 16 Nepalese guides, the deadliest single disaster on the mountain. Climate experts say rising global temperatures have contributed to avalanches on the Himalayan mountains.
Additional reporting by APAdditional reporting by AP