12 climbers dead in Mount Everest avalanche

An avalanche on Mount Everest early on Friday has killed at least 12 local climbers and seven others are still unaccounted for in what is likely one of the most lethal accidents on the world’s highest peak.

Emergency officials said 12 bodies had been recovered, while a further three climbers were injured and subsequently taken to Kathmandu.

Reports suggest a massive avalanche low on the 29,000ft (8,848m) mountain caught a work party of local climbers as they prepared the classic South Col route for fee-paying western climbers.

Guides had gone early in the morning to fix the ropes that would have guided climbers, when the avalanche hit them. Reports said the accident had occurred between base camp and Camp 1 in the chaotic and extremely dangerous ice fall.

Tourism ministry spokesman Mohan Krishna Sapkota said the climbers were all Nepalese and were preparing the route to the summit ahead of the summer climbing season which kicks off later this month.

Eight people died on Everest last year, including one of the best-known and experienced local sherpa guides who was killed in the ice fall.