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| Nepal Annapurna: Climbing disaster toll reaches 39 | Nepal Annapurna: Climbing disaster toll reaches 39 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 39 climbers died on a key Nepali hiking route after it was hit by major snowstorms and avalanches earlier this week, officials say. | At least 39 climbers died on a key Nepali hiking route after it was hit by major snowstorms and avalanches earlier this week, officials say. |
| Helicopters are helping rescuers high in the Himalayas as they search on for missing trekkers, with fears that more bodies lie beneath the snow. | Helicopters are helping rescuers high in the Himalayas as they search on for missing trekkers, with fears that more bodies lie beneath the snow. |
| A total of 289 people have been rescued from the mountain ranges in what is Nepal's worst-ever trekking disaster. | A total of 289 people have been rescued from the mountain ranges in what is Nepal's worst-ever trekking disaster. |
| A government spokesman said the priority was to rescue stranded people. | A government spokesman said the priority was to rescue stranded people. |
| Tourism ministry official Suresh Acharya told BBC Nepali that helicopters were scouring snowy areas as high as 5,790m (19,000ft). | Tourism ministry official Suresh Acharya told BBC Nepali that helicopters were scouring snowy areas as high as 5,790m (19,000ft). |
| One of the main trekking routes - the Thorung La pass, the high point of the Annapurna Circuit - is now "relatively safe" after the army cleared snow, he said. | One of the main trekking routes - the Thorung La pass, the high point of the Annapurna Circuit - is now "relatively safe" after the army cleared snow, he said. |
| "We are told that there are around still 20-25 persons in the area and they are safe," the official added. | "We are told that there are around still 20-25 persons in the area and they are safe," the official added. |
| The BBC's Andrew North in Nepal says that it is still unclear which climbers have been accounted for and which are still missing. | The BBC's Andrew North in Nepal says that it is still unclear which climbers have been accounted for and which are still missing. |
| The task of the authorities is made more complicated because there are thousands of climbers in Nepal at this time of the year. | The task of the authorities is made more complicated because there are thousands of climbers in Nepal at this time of the year. |
| Rescuers have only limited resources and most of the missing and dead are believed to be at the maximum heights that helicopters can reach. | Rescuers have only limited resources and most of the missing and dead are believed to be at the maximum heights that helicopters can reach. |
| Nepalese, Israeli, Canadian, Indian, Slovak and Polish trekkers are among the dead. | Nepalese, Israeli, Canadian, Indian, Slovak and Polish trekkers are among the dead. |
| Many survivors have been left with severe frostbite and will have to have limbs amputated. | Many survivors have been left with severe frostbite and will have to have limbs amputated. |
| Nepal earns huge revenues from the tens of thousands of trekkers and climbers who flock to the Himalayas every year. | Nepal earns huge revenues from the tens of thousands of trekkers and climbers who flock to the Himalayas every year. |
| However, it remains a very poor country and the authorities here have struggled to cope with the scale of this disaster, our correspondent says. | However, it remains a very poor country and the authorities here have struggled to cope with the scale of this disaster, our correspondent says. |
| This has been a particularly deadly year for Nepal's trekking and mountaineering industry. | This has been a particularly deadly year for Nepal's trekking and mountaineering industry. |
| An avalanche on Mount Everest in April killed 16 Sherpa guides and resulted in a significant drop in the number of expeditions to the world's highest peak. | An avalanche on Mount Everest in April killed 16 Sherpa guides and resulted in a significant drop in the number of expeditions to the world's highest peak. |
| The latest disaster comes at the height of the trekking period. | The latest disaster comes at the height of the trekking period. |
| What is the Annapurna Circuit? | |
| Nepal blizzards: Survival guide | |
| Are you or anyone you know affected by this story? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you or anyone you know affected by this story? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. |
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