**Title: Rescuers Search for 12 Missing After Nepal Avalanche Claims Two Lives**
**Kathmandu, Nepal** – Rescuers are actively searching for 12 individuals who went missing following a devastating avalanche on Mount Himlung, which has already claimed the lives of at least two climbers. The incident occurred on Sunday, September 27, 2026, during severe weather conditions that have recently affected the region.
The avalanche struck while climbers were at a base camp preparing for the arrival of foreign clients for the autumn climbing season, which commenced earlier this month. The mountain, located in north-central Nepal, stands at an elevation of 7,126 meters (23,380 feet).
Tul Singh Gurung, president of the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, reported that rescue teams have successfully retrieved the bodies of the two deceased climbers. These remains were airlifted to Kathmandu on Monday and subsequently transported to the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for identification and further procedures.
"Two bodies were found as rescuers worked until 6 PM last night," Gurung stated, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to locate the remaining missing climbers. Currently, a team of eight mountain guides is engaged in the search operation on the mountain.
All individuals involved in the incident, both deceased and missing, are Nepali nationals. The avalanche is part of a broader pattern of severe weather that has led to flooding and landslides in the Manang district, where Mount Himlung is situated. Local authorities reported that heavy rainfall over the weekend has exacerbated conditions, prompting the government to issue warnings regarding severe weather across the Himalayan region.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has reported that between Thursday and Sunday, 21 other individuals lost their lives due to various weather-related incidents across Nepal, with five more still unaccounted for. The country is still grappling with the aftermath of catastrophic flooding that occurred in August, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 people and left approximately 5,500 individuals missing.
In light of these events, the NDRRMA has noted that 13,795 people have been rescued in the wake of the recent disasters. The agency continues to monitor the situation closely as rescue efforts proceed.
Researchers from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group have indicated that the recent avalanche and flooding are part of a larger "compound crisis" influenced by long-term climate change factors, including global warming, glacier retreat, permafrost thaw, and geological instability. This multifaceted approach underscores the increasing vulnerability of mountainous regions to extreme weather events.
As the search for the missing climbers continues, families and friends of the climbers have gathered in Kathmandu, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. The tragic events on Mount Himlung serve as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with high-altitude climbing, particularly in the face of changing weather patterns and environmental conditions.
The Nepalese government, alongside various rescue organizations, remains committed to locating the missing individuals and providing support to the families affected by this tragic incident.