Himlung Himal Base Camp Avalanche Leaves 14 Missing

An avalanche at Himlung Himal Base Camp on September 27, 2026, has left at least 14 people missing and two climbing guides dead. The disaster, triggered by days of heavy rain and snowfall, struck the camp in Nepal's Manang district.

All missing and deceased individuals are Nepalese expedition staff, including 14 kitchen workers and two guides. They were employed by companies like Himalayan Holidays Nepal and Imagine Nepal, preparing the base camp for paying clients. Bibhuti Chand Thakur, head of Himalayan Holidays Nepal, stated search and rescue operations were underway. He said the chance of survival remains high because of the fresh snow but did not yet have a definitive number of missing or survivors.

Rescue Efforts Hampered

Rescue operations are severely limited. Helicopters are grounded and volunteers on foot have been unable to reach the remote, communication-cut-off camp due to ongoing bad weather. An eight-member search and rescue team was placed on standby at Tribhuvan International Airport. The team comprises:

Authorities had warned of severe weather across Nepal over the weekend, with rain affecting much of the country since Thursday. The Annapurna Conservation Area was closed to visitors, and other popular spots issued warnings urging trekkers and climbers to stay away from higher passes and avalanche-prone areas. Six climbers remain at Base Camp on Dhaulagiri, shoveling snow but reported safe.

Context of Risk and Rarity

An avalanche at base camp height is rare. Himlung is a 7,126-meter peak in the Nar-Phu Valley. Its base camp is usually on flat ground, a respectable distance from the mountain flanks. No foreigners are currently on Himlung as the route is not fixed and no permits have been issued. A significant number of staff evidently remained at the camp despite widespread storm warnings.

The mountain's growing popularity centers around a proposed tourism law under debate in Nepal’s parliament. The law would make climbing a 7,000m peak a prerequisite for foreigners before attempting Everest. Expedition companies have marketed it accordingly. Imagine Nepal describes Himlung as an ideal peak for climbers looking to push their altitude experience to the next level.

The current accident recalls a death on Himlung during a major storm last year. Chin Tark Chan, 49, of Australia, fell ill near the summit as weather worsened. Bad weather hampered rescue attempts, and the climber eventually died after being carried down to Camp 3.

The severe weather also caused a landslide above a village near Manaslu Base Camp. The event triggered strong tremors and a powerful roar at 3 am on Sunday, causing locals and visitors to run outside for safety. Nepalese IFMGA guide Abiral Rai posted on social media about the scare. "We rushed out of our rooms, looking for a safe place," he said. "We did not know where to go." There are no victims reported from that landslide. Everyone was urged to stay in villages to remain safe. Authorities continue to monitor weather conditions and await a window to resume search operations, while local communities remain on alert for further landslides or avalanches.