6 killed, 9 missing in avalanche on Everest
KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) -- An avalanche swept the slopes of Mount Everest on Friday along a route used to climb the world's highest peak, killing at least six Nepalese guides and leaving nine missing, officials said.
The Sherpa guides had gone early in the morning to fix ropes for hundreds of climbers when the avalanche hit them just below Camp 2 about 6:30 a.m., said Nepal Tourism Ministry official Krishna Lamsal, speaking from the base camp where he is monitoring the rescue efforts.
Four bodies have been recovered and rescuers were digging two more out of the snow, he said. Nine more Sherpas are unaccounted for and believed to be buried, he said.
Hundreds of climbers, their guides and support guides had gathered at the base camp, gearing up for attempts to scale the 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) peak early next month when weather conditions become favorable. Ahead of that, they have been setting up camps at higher altitudes and guides have been fixing routes and ropes on the slopes above.
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