KATHMANDU, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- At least four people have been confirmed dead after an avalanche struck the base camp area of Mt. Himlung in Nepal's mountainous district of Manang on Sunday morning, a senior police officer said on Monday.
"Two dead bodies were recovered on Sunday, and an additional two dead bodies were recovered on Monday morning at the incident site," Binod Bohora, an inspector at the District Police Office in Manang, told Xinhua.
The bodies were recovered during a helicopter-assisted rescue operation on Monday morning.
The avalanche swept through the mountain's base camp and buried several tents where expedition guides and support staff from an advance team were staying for necessary observations and preparations ahead of the autumn climbing season.
Bohora said more people were feared dead, as more than a dozen people were reported missing by the concerned expedition companies. However, 11 people who survived the avalanche have made contact with their respective companies, according to Bohora.
Officials said rescue efforts on Monday were made easier by improved weather conditions after incessant rainfall in several parts of the country, including Manang, until Sunday.
"It's a sunny day today," said Mukti Prasad Khanal, chief district officer of Manang. "Helicopters are operating for rescue efforts."
Concerned expedition companies said several of their staff members who were at the base camp of the 7,126-meter-tall mountain to fix ropes and set up tents ahead of the autumn climbing season remained missing.
The incident occurred amid severe weather and heavy rainfall affecting parts of Nepal, including Manang. Authorities in Nepal's mountainous Manang district had prohibited trekking in several high-altitude areas from Sept. 25 to 27 following forecasts of heavy to very heavy rainfall and snowfall in higher Himalayan areas. ■