Avalanche Strikes Annapurna, Two Sherpas Missing
Tragedy struck on Annapurna this morning when an avalanche hit Rima Rinje Sherpa and Ngima Tashi Sherpa as they worked between Camp 2 and Camp 3 — a notoriously hazardous section of the mountain. Both men are currently missing.
A search-and-rescue helicopter was dispatched, and ground teams are ascending from Base Camp to assist in the ongoing search.
The missing Sherpas, both born in Nepal’s Khumbu Valley, were working for the expedition company Seven Summit Treks. Although the company initially reported successful summits earlier in the day, it did not disclose the incident until later. That evening, expedition leader Chhang Dawa Sherpa confirmed the accident and shared a video of the avalanche captured by Brazilian climber Roman Romancini, who was farther down the slope at the time and escaped unharmed.
The avalanche occurred at approximately 5,600 meters around noon while the Sherpas were transporting oxygen cylinders up the mountain.
“Ngima Tashi and Rima Rinje were swept away,” said Chhang Dawa. “Pemba Thenduk, who was also caught in the avalanche, managed to hold on and immediately began searching for them.”
At least four other Sherpas nearby rushed to help, but the initial search yielded no results.
Chhang Dawa later reported that aerial searches continued until nightfall with no signs of the missing men. Another helicopter equipped with a search team is scheduled to return at first light. Despite the difficult odds, he remains hopeful: “I am not losing hope,” he said.
The avalanche has also disrupted operations for other climbers still high on the mountain.
“The route between Camp 2 and Camp 3 has been severely affected,” confirmed Chhang Dawa. “We’ll do our best to restore the line by tomorrow.”
