News Digest

Injured flown from Everest as 6.7-magnitude aftershock triggers new avalanches

The first rescue plane carrying people injured in an earthquake-triggered avalanche that ripped through tents on Mount Everest arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday shortly before a strong aftershock rocked India and Nepal and triggered more snowfalls. Nepal’s worst earthquake in 81 years, at 7.9 magnitude, killed at least 1,900 people on Saturday including at least 18 climbers on Everest. Survivors on Everest described a cloud of rock and ice that smashed into base camp, and many climbers were still on the mountain when an aftershock triggered a new series of avalanches on Sunday. There were no immediate reports of more casualties.

Another big one. Really big. Rockfall off surrounding peaks in North Side #everest base camp. Worst possible news for south.

Climber Adrian Ballinger’s post on Twitter

The 6.7 magnitude aftershock felt as far away as Delhi also set off an avalanche on nearby Mount Makalu, the world’s firth highest peak. The survivors flown down from Everest included three from China, Japan, and South Korea. Several of the injured had bandages on their heads, one spotted with blood and all were able to walk. Tourism ministry officials estimated that at least 1,000 climbers, including about 400 foreigners, had been at base camp or on the ascent to the peak when the earthquake struck. At Everest camps 1 and 2, above base camp, 100 climbers and guides were unable to descend because of damage to a route through the treacherous Khumbu icefalls, a rescue leader said.