Off the wire
• Hong Kong stocks close down 0.09 pct by midday  • Nepal in round-a-clock update with China's satellite images and forecast  • Above 1/3 Australian babies cared for by family members: data  • New Zealand, China's Taiwan eyeing indigenous people links  • Feature: Pakistan Air Force fighter pilot demonstrates rare aviation photography skills  • Prisoners stand trial for NE China jailbreak  • Indian PM holds 3rd high level meeting on Nepal earthquake  • Spotlight: U.S., Iran closer to nuke deal despite Republicans' threat to derail  • S.Korea assesses new U.S.-Japan defense cooperation guideline  • Tokyo shares end higher by break  
You are here: 　 Home

Around 200 people rescued from Mount Qomolangma, 19 confirmed dead: Tourism Ministry

Xinhua, April 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

Around 200 people including climbers, trekkers and guides have been rescued from Mount Qomolangma till Monday evening, Nepal's Ministry of Tourism said on Tuesday.

After the improvement of weather conditions, four helicopters were in rescue operation for whole day Monday, bringing down the avalanche-stranded mountaineers.

"Almost all climbers and high-altitude guides have descended from Camp 1 and 2 and everything is fine," Tulsi Prasad Gautam, Director General of the Ministry of Tourism told Xinhua.

According to Department of Tourism, at least 19 climbers have been confirmed dead including 5 foreign nationals in two avalanches triggered by a massive earthquake on Saturday.

However, mountaineering officials say that the number of exact casualties is yet to be ascertained.

According to Temba Tsheri, Sherpa of Dreamers Destination Expedition Pvt. Ltd, "all injured team members and staffs have been brought back to Kathmandu and being treated in different hospitals, but I lost my five friends."

The tourism department had issued climbing permits to 370 individuals on this spring climbing season. Endi