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Nepal Annapurna: Climbing disaster toll reaches 39 Nepal Annapurna: Climbing disaster toll reaches 39
(about 5 hours 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. Snowstorms and avalanches have killed 39 climbers on a popular hiking route in the Himalayas, Nepali 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. After a fourth day of searches, 384 people have been rescued from the Annapurna trail, 216 of them foreigners, in the country'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. Helicopters have been searching parts of the trail high as 5,790m (19,000ft) for survivors.
A government spokesman said the priority was to rescue stranded people. The government said the priority was to rescue 22 stranded hikers.
Tourism ministry official Suresh Acharya told BBC Nepali that helicopters were scouring snowy areas as high as 5,790m (19,000ft). The trekkers are stranded at Thorung La pass, and face a shortage of food and water. Army helicopters tried to rescue them but failed after being unable to land.
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.
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.
Severe frostbite
Army helicopters tried unsuccessfully to rescue them on Saturday between the Mustang and Dolpa districts, government rescue coordinator Suresh Acharya said.
Twenty bodies have been recovered but 19 bodies are still in the snow and a rescue team will be deployed on Sunday to dig them out and retrieve them by air, 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 earlier.
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, Japanese, Israeli, Canadian, Indian, Slovak, Vietnamese and Polish trekkers are said to be 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?What is the Annapurna Circuit?
Nepal blizzards: Survival guideNepal blizzards: Survival guide
Are you or anyone you know affected by this story? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukAre 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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