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'Six dead' in Everest avalanche Nine dead in Everest avalanche
(about 1 hour later)
At least six local guides are reported to have been killed after an avalanche on the slopes of Mount Everest. At least nine local guides have been killed after an avalanche on the slopes of Mount Everest, Nepal officials say.
The avalanche struck around 06:45 local time (01:00 GMT) in an area known as the "popcorn field", just above Everest base camp at an elevation of 5,800m (19,000ft), an official told the BBC. The avalanche struck around 06:45 local time (01:00 GMT) in an area known as the "popcorn field", just above Everest base camp at 5,800m (19,000ft).
An official said four bodies had been found and two more were being dug out of the snow. A spokesman for Nepal's tourism ministry told the BBC some missing climbers had been rescued, but about five still remained missing.
Everest is crowded ahead of peak season on the 8,850m summit. It is thought to be the deadliest climbing tragedy on the mountain.
Tourism Ministry official Madhusudan Burlakoti told the BBC that three helicopters had been sent to the area to help in rescue efforts.
The Sherpa guides had climbed up the slope early in the morning to fix ropes for climbers and prepare the route for mountaineers when the avalanche hit, officials are quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.The Sherpa guides had climbed up the slope early in the morning to fix ropes for climbers and prepare the route for mountaineers when the avalanche hit, officials are quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.
A number of others are thought to be missing. The identities of the dead and missing have not been officially disclosed, tourism ministry spokesman, Mohan Krishna Sapkota, told the BBC.
He said a search and rescue operation was now under way and that three helicopters have been sent to the area.
More than 3,000 people have scaled Mount Everest since it was first conquered by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953, but many have died in the attempt too.More than 3,000 people have scaled Mount Everest since it was first conquered by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953, but many have died in the attempt too.
April and May are the peak climbing months, with hundreds of climbers converging at base camp in the hope of scaling the summit.
Straddling Nepal and China, the world's highest mountain has an altitude of 8,848m (29,029ft).Straddling Nepal and China, the world's highest mountain has an altitude of 8,848m (29,029ft).