Himlung Himal Avalanche Leaves 10 Missing as Heavy Snow Hits Manang

UPDATE — September 27, 2026: The number initially reported missing has been revised to 16. Two climbing guides have now been found dead, while 14 kitchen staff remain missing. A specialist rescue team has reached the avalanche site and the search continues.

An avalanche struck the base camp of Himlung Himal in Nepal’s Manang district on Sunday morning, leaving 10 people unaccounted for as heavy snowfall and persistent rain continue to create dangerous conditions across the country’s mountain regions.

The 7,126-metre Himlung Himal is located in the Nar Phu area of Manang, close to the Nepal-Tibet border. The avalanche hit the expedition base camp after several days of heavy snowfall in the region.

The Expedition Operators Association Nepal confirmed that 10 people are currently unaccounted for. According to the association, eight are associated with Himalayan Holidays Nepal, while two are from Imagine Nepal Pvt Ltd.

Expedition organiser Mingma Gyalje Sherpa also confirmed that two members of his kitchen staff were among those missing. The missing personnel are understood to be associated with different expedition operators at the base camp.

Authorities have not yet confirmed deaths in the incident.

Avalanche hits after days of heavy snowfall

The avalanche came after several days of snowfall and deteriorating weather in the high mountains.

According to expedition organisers, climbing and rope-fixing teams had already moved away from exposed mountain slopes after a weather warning was issued last week. Heavy snowfall had also forced climbers to retreat from planned autumn attempts on Himlung Himal.

However, some expedition personnel remained at the base camp when the avalanche struck on Sunday morning.

Reports indicate that the avalanche buried tents at the base camp, cutting contact with members of the expedition teams. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed.

Search and rescue efforts being assessed

Nepal’s Department of Tourism is monitoring the incident and collecting information from expedition operators and officials at the site.

Ram Krishna Lamichhane, director general of the Department of Tourism, said authorities were gathering further details and working to establish the situation of those who remain unaccounted for.

Rescue operations face significant logistical challenges because of the continuing adverse weather and the remote, high-altitude location.

Helicopter access to Himlung Himal also requires an additional permit, adding another layer of difficulty to any aerial response.

As of the latest reports, authorities had not released a detailed account of the rescue operation or confirmed whether all 10 missing people had been located.

Tourism authorities had issued a weather warning

The avalanche occurred just days after Nepal’s Department of Tourism issued a safety advisory for trekkers, mountaineers and expedition support staff.

The advisory, issued on September 23, warned of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds from September 25 to 27. It also highlighted the possibility of snowfall at high elevations and increased risks from landslides, floods and soil erosion.

The department advised trekkers, climbers and expedition organisers to reconsider their plans according to the latest weather conditions and exercise heightened caution.

The warning covered Manang and other major mountain destinations as Nepal entered the busy autumn trekking and mountaineering season.

Himlung Himal and the autumn climbing season

Himlung Himal rises to 7,126 metres in the remote Nar Phu region of Manang. The mountain is a popular high-altitude climbing destination, particularly among mountaineers looking to gain experience before attempting higher Himalayan peaks.

The mountain’s location and difficult access mean that weather can have a major impact on expedition logistics.

This year’s autumn climbing season has already been affected by the persistent snowfall. Teams had begun moving away from the mountain slopes before Sunday’s avalanche as conditions deteriorated.

Part of a wider spell of extreme weather

The Himlung Himal incident is unfolding amid a much broader spell of severe weather across Nepal.

Since Friday, heavy rain has affected the hills and plains while snowfall has intensified in the high mountains. The weather has triggered floods and landslides, damaged roads and disrupted transportation in several parts of the country.

The difficult conditions have also affected other mountaineering areas. Expeditions on mountains including Manaslu and Dhaulagiri have reportedly been disrupted as climbers respond to worsening weather conditions.

For now, the priority at Himlung Himal is establishing the whereabouts of the 10 people reported missing and determining the safest way to reach the affected base camp.

Further details are expected as expedition operators, local authorities and the Department of Tourism gather information from the mountain.