Nepal rescuers recover eight bodies after Himalayan avalanche

Authorities are still searching for bodies from devastating floods triggered by a mountain glacial collapse Aug. 26 that killed more than 1,400 people and left more than 5,000 missing.(AFP) — Rescuers recovered eight more bodies Thursday from the site of a Himalayan avalanche that buried 16 expedition workers in one of the worst mountain disasters in recent years.The avalanche swept through the base camp of the 23,345-foot Himlung peak early Sunday as Nepali workers were preparing for upcoming expeditions on the mountain near the Chinese border.“The team have found eight bodies today,” said Tul Singh Gurung, president of the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association. The recoveries brought the death toll to 15, with one person still missing.“We are hopeful the last person will be found too,” he added.A team of 11 rescuers, including experienced guides, was at the site, digging through more than 14 feet of snow that had buried tents at the base camp.The bodies of two mountain guides were recovered Sunday, and those of two kitchen workers were recovered Monday, followed by three more bodies Tuesday.Nepal’s worst mountaineering disasters in recent years occurred in 2014, when an avalanche killed 16 people on Mount Everest, and in 2015, when an earthquake killed 18 people, also on Everest.Authorities are still searching for bodies from devastating floods triggered by a mountain glacial collapse Aug. 26 that killed more than 1,400 people and left more than 5,000 missing.Heavy rain since Thursday has triggered more floods and landslides, killing at least 21 people, according to the national disaster agency.Home to eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks, Nepal relies heavily on mountaineering and trekking tourism.Himlung, where Sunday’s avalanche occurred, is a popular destination for mountaineers looking to begin climbing peaks exceeding 23,000 feet.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads