A powerful avalanche took place on Everest which killed at least 12 Nepalese guides, while three are seriously injured, international agencies reported.
According to first reports published by The Associated Press, quoted by The Boston Globe, the events took place on Friday, April 18 at around 6:30 a.m., local time.
The guides had left from their camp to set up ropes to help climbers descend when they were surprised by an avalanche close to Camp 2, confirmed Nepal's Minister of Tourism, Krishna Lamsal, quoted by the AP.
After the incident, a rescue crew managed to recover the bodies of 12 guides and rescued 3 seriously injured guides; however it's suspected that more people might be missing under the ice and snow, although this information hasn't been confirmed.
According to Reuters, the number of missing guides is four, although this figure varies with different reports.
The same source detailed that the avalanche happened in the most popular route to reach the summit, in the upper paths of the Khumbu Icefall, a dangerous section due to constant avalanches.
The Sherpa who were buried by the avalanche were part of a group comprised of hundreds of climbers who were gathered for a last attempt to climb the 29,035 feet tall mount, programmed for early May when climatic conditions would be favorable.
The Sherpa guides, who help climbers reach the summit of Everest, are greatly experienced climbers and advance before climbers to set up ropes to guarantee the descent of foreign visitors.
"They were very strong and experimented climbers. It's a natural disaster and nobody could have done anything about it," said Ishwari Paudel, owner of the group six of the guides who lost their lives belonged to, quoted by Reuters.
The other Sherpa worked for other climbing groups. Rescue efforts were suspended on Friday night and continued on Saturday morning.
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