Bodies of German mountaineer and four other men recovered after avalanche on Yalung Ri in Nepal

Background of the accident

The disaster occurred in November 2025. At that time, an avalanche broke loose during an ascent and swept the five men away. Eight other members of the expedition group were able to be rescued alive, according to authorities. No further details were initially known about their nationality.

Search and rescue forces had initially only been able to recover the survivors after the accident. Due to the altitude, the snow conditions and the adverse weather, the further search operations proved difficult. The authorities spoke of a "challenging operation".

Yalung Ri reaches a height of 5,630 metres and is considered a technically demanding objective. It lies in the Rolwaling Himal, part of the main Himalayan range. In the shadow of the nearby Mount Everest, the region is climbed less frequently, which makes rescue operations additionally more difficult.

Himalayas: dream and risk

Nepal is one of the most popular countries for high-altitude mountaineers worldwide. Every year, thousands of alpinists come to the Himalayas, especially to the region around Mount Everest. At the same time, Nepalese authorities repeatedly record deaths caused by avalanches, falls and altitude sickness.

Local mountain guides had expressed hope after the avalanche in November that the missing persons could be found alive. After weeks of searching without results, the search was suspended in the meantime. The recovery of the bodies that has now taken place was, according to police, supported by local Sherpas and a Nepalese police team.

Search, recovery and open questions

The responsible tourism authority in Kathmandu announced an investigation into the course of the accident. The focus is on the question of whether the expedition group was sufficiently equipped and whether the weather warnings were heeded. Nepal had recently tightened its regulations for commercial expeditions.

The names of the five victims were initially not fully published by the authorities, citing data protection. Family members had been informed, it was said. The German Embassy in Kathmandu was involved to support the relatives of the German mountaineer.

Reactions and next steps

With the recovery of the bodies, a search that has occupied Nepal's mountaineering community for months comes to an end. The Nepalese police stated that they would continue the investigations into the course of the accident and, if necessary, publish a final report.