Nepal: five climbers found dead on Mount Yalung Ri after months missing

10:45

By: Sahili Aya

Nepal: five climbers found dead on Mount Yalung Ri after months missing

The bodies of five climbers who disappeared after an avalanche on Mount Yalung Ri in Nepal last November have been located, according to Nepalese officials.

The group included three foreign mountaineers — an Italian-Canadian, an Italian and a German national — along with two Nepalese nationals. They had been missing since an avalanche swept them away on the mountain in November 2025.

Their remains were spotted on Friday by workers involved in a search operation organized through a trekking agency, officials said Saturday.

Bodies located at the site of the disappearance

The five bodies were discovered in an area corresponding to the location where the climbers were last known to have been caught by the avalanche.

Thabindra Kumar Kafle, an official from Gaurishankar rural municipality, where Yalung Ri is located, confirmed that the bodies had been seen by members of the search team.

The discovery offers a long-awaited development for the families and those involved in the search for the missing climbers.

Bad weather delays recovery operation

Although the bodies have been located, rescuers have yet to reach the site.

Phurba Tenjing Sherpa, of Dreamers’ Destination, the trekking company that guided the foreign climbers, said the team was attempting to reach the area but had been prevented from progressing by poor weather.

The difficult conditions underline the challenges involved in recovering remains from a high-altitude Himalayan environment, where weather can rapidly disrupt rescue operations.

Authorities and search teams will now have to wait for a suitable weather window to reach the site and begin the recovery process.

A months-long search

The climbers had remained missing for months after the November avalanche, leaving the circumstances of their disappearance unresolved.

The discovery of the five bodies provides confirmation that all members of the group have been located, although the recovery operation remains pending.

Mount Yalung Ri lies in Nepal's mountainous Gaurishankar region, where difficult terrain and unpredictable weather can make search and rescue missions particularly challenging.