An avalanche struck the Himlung Himal base camp in Nepal's Manang district on September 27, 2026, leaving 10 to 12 Nepali climbers and support staff missing. The incident occurred after days of heavy snowfall and rain, which have also disrupted the broader autumn climbing season on peaks like Mount Manaslu. Search and rescue operations remain delayed as adverse weather prevents helicopters from reaching the remote site near the Tibet border. This disaster follows a catastrophic glacial flood in August 2026 that killed over 1,300 people.
The Himlung Himal avalanche
- ▪An avalanche that struck Himlung Himal base camp on September 27, 2026, buried a tent where nine climbers and 13 support staff were taking shelter
- ▪An avalanche struck the base camp of the 7,126-meter Himlung Himal peak in Nepal's Manang district on the morning of September 27, 2026
- ▪The Himlung Himal base camp area had experienced several days of heavy snowfall and persistent rain before the avalanche occurred on September 27, 2026
Missing climbers and staff
- ▪Between 10 and 12 Nepali climbers and support staff are reported missing following an avalanche that struck the Himlung Himal base camp on September 27, 2026
- ▪Eight of the individuals missing after the September 27, 2026 avalanche at Himlung Himal are affiliated with Himalayan Holidays Nepal, while two are affiliated with Imagine Nepal Treks
Obstacles to rescue efforts
- ▪Adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain and snowfall, have prevented rescue helicopters and teams from beginning search operations at the Himlung Himal base camp
- ▪Rescue operations at Himlung Himal are further complicated because helicopter access to the Manang region requires an additional permit
Official weather precautions
- ▪Nepal authorities had issued warnings of potential avalanches and flash floods starting September 22, 2026, due to heavy snowfall and persistent rain in high-altitude districts
- ▪The National Trust for Nature Conservation suspended entry permits to the Annapurna and Manaslu conservation areas from September 24 to 26, 2026, due to heavy rainfall
Impact on autumn climbing season
- ▪Nepal issued more than 500 climbing permits for the 2026 autumn season, with the majority allocated for Mount Manaslu
- ▪Heavy snowfall forced climbers to cancel autumn expeditions on Mount Manaslu and pause treks to the Dhaulagiri mountain range during the week of September 21, 2026
August flooding aftermath
- ▪A devastating flood and landslide on August 26, 2026, triggered by a glacier collapse on the Nepal-China border, killed over 1,300 people and left more than 5,000 missing
- ▪The August 2026 floods washed away settlements along the Trishuli River in Nepal's Rasuwa district
Debatable claims
- ▪Nepal should eliminate special permit requirements for emergency rescue helicopters
- ▪Expedition companies bear primary responsibility for staff safety when ignoring official weather warnings
- ▪The economic benefits of commercial climbing justify the high physical risks borne by local guides
- ▪Nepal's economic reliance on mountain tourism justifies keeping climbing seasons open during high-risk weather
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