KATHMANDU: At least seven climbers, including three from Italy and one each from France and Germany, have been confirmed dead after an avalanche on Yalung Ri peak in the Rolwaling region. Two Nepali guides also perished in the incident. Five injured individuals were airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment this morning.

According to Phurba Tenjing Sherpa, Managing Director of Dreamers Destination Treks, Italians Paolo Cocco and Marco Di Marcello, along with climbing guide Padam Tamang from his company, died while attempting to climb the peak. A massive avalanche struck the climbers just below the summit on November 3. “Efforts are underway to recover their bodies from the avalanche site,” he said.

Bhuwan Bharati, Managing Director of Wilderness Outdoors, a Kathmandu-based trekking agency, confirmed that Jakob Schreiber from Germany and Markus Kirchler from Italy were buried in the avalanche. Their climbing guide, Mere Karki, also died. “They changed their initial plan to climb Pachermo (6,279m) due to adverse weather last week and headed for Yalung Ri peak,” Bharati said.

Another victim was 69-year-old French trekker Christian Andre Manfredi, who was in the region with Kathmandu-based Yatri Treks.

The injured—three Nepalis and two French nationals—were airlifted to Kathmandu this morning via a Heli Everest helicopter. The rescued are Nima Gyalzen Sherpa from Dreamers Destinations; French trekkers Isbelle Solange Thaon and Didier Arman Berton; and Lakpa Tamang and Sun Bahadur Gurung from Yatri Treks. The French trekkers are being treated at Era Hospital, while the Nepali climbers are at HAMS Hospital.

Among the deceased, Marco Di Marcello, an Italian-Canadian citizen, was a certified guide with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, a biologist at the Mitochondria Research Center in Austria, and an active member of the Explora Nunaat International team. Paolo Cocco, based in Tyrol, joined the expedition as a photographer.

Phurba Tenjing Sherpa added that others evacuated from Rolwaling this morning include Nepali actor Chhulthim Dolma Gurung, Raj Gurung, Kaji Sherpa, and climate advocate Carole Fuchs from France, none of whom sustained serious injuries.

A rescue team has reached the Yalung Ri Base Camp to recover the bodies of the deceased, according to Mingma Sherpa, Director of Heli Everest, who coordinated the mission. “There are no other trekkers missing in the incident,” Sherpa confirmed.