7 missing after avalanche hits Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal
Image credit: Andrew and Annemarie
Seven people have gone missing after an avalanche hit a popular trekking route in the mountains of western Nepal on Friday, January 17, 2020.
The avalanche struck Annapurna Base Camp, where four South Korean trekkers and three Nepali tour guides were feared to be buried under the thick blanket of snow.
According to the country's Department of Tourism official Meera Acharya, efforts were being made for search and rescue. Four helicopters have been deployed for the mission, with authorities and local volunteers helping out.
So far, crews have been able to pluck 30 trekkers trapped in the snow and flew them to a safer place. However, severe weather conditions and extreme cold in the past two days made the operations more difficult.
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the avalanche struck in an altitude of about 3 230 m (10 600 feet) before noon.
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