Seven Italian climbers remain missing in Nepal's Himalayan mountains following a series of deadly avalanches and storms that have killed at least nine people in recent days, Italy's Foreign Ministry confirmed Wednesday.
Three Italian climbers were among seven people killed Monday when a massive avalanche struck a base camp near the summit of Mount Yalung Ri in Nepal's Himalayan range. The others killed included two Nepali guides, a German climber, and a French climber. Five people were rescued from the site, including three Nepalis and two French nationals.
Italy's Foreign Ministry said local authorities confirmed the deaths of three Italian climbers but that "there remains no news of seven other Italian nationals" reported missing. The ministry noted that communication between local authorities, rescue teams, and diplomatic missions "continues to be extremely challenging."
Nepal's Department of Tourism director Himal Gautam said there was no immediate information about the fate of the seven missing individuals.
French survivor Isabelle Solange Thaon, 54, who lost her husband Christian Manfred in the avalanche, described the harrowing experience from her hospital bed in Kathmandu. "We were lucky," she told news agency Associated Press, explaining that she jumped over rocks and swam through avalanche snow until help arrived. "Unfortunately, Christian died because rocks hit his head," she said.
Mount Yalung Ri, a 5,600-meter peak in the Rolwaling Valley of northeastern Nepal, is considered suitable for novice mountaineers. However, two other Italian climbers died Friday while attempting to scale the 6,887-meter Panbari mountain in western Nepal.
The disasters followed unseasonal rains and heavy snow caused by Cyclone Montha, which struck Nepal last week and left many trekkers stranded on popular Himalayan routes. Nepalese authorities have issued alerts to climbers and trekkers visiting the country, which hosts eight of the world's ten highest peaks, including Mount Everest.
