Ask Onix
Seven Italian climbers missing in Nepal after Himalayan avalanches
Italian authorities confirmed Wednesday that seven of their citizens remain unaccounted for in Nepal's Dolakha district after avalanches struck the Dolma Khang peak area, where a team of climbers had been attempting an ascent. The 6,332-meter (20,774-foot) peak has been hit by severe weather in recent days, claiming the lives of at least three other Italian mountaineers.
Search efforts intensify as deaths rise
Nepal's tourism officials and rescue teams are coordinating with a senior Italian diplomat dispatched from New Delhi to locate the missing climbers. Among them are Marco Di Marcello and Markus Kircheler, last tracked in the Yalung Ri area-where an avalanche struck on Monday, killing seven, including Italian national Paolo Cocco. Conflicting reports have emerged about the total number of casualties and missing persons, complicating recovery operations.
Ram Krishna Lamichhane, a Nepali tourism official, told the BBC that five individuals-three foreign climbers and two Nepali guides-are still missing near Dolma Khang's base camp. Authorities are working with the trekking agency that organized the expedition to verify details.
Recent fatalities and rescues
In addition to Cocco, the bodies of Stefano Farronato and Alessandro Caputo were recovered after they vanished while attempting to scale the 6,887-meter Panbari peak in western Nepal. The trio, accompanied by three local guides, lost contact with their base camp following heavy snowfall on October 28. One Italian climber and a Sherpa guide were rescued from the group.
Weather risks persist despite peak season
Autumn typically draws trekkers and mountaineers to Nepal due to favorable conditions, but this year's storms-including Cyclone Montha, which triggered heavy rain and snow last week-have heightened dangers. Avalanches and extreme weather have stranded climbers across the Himalayas, underscoring the unpredictable risks even in the region's busier seasons.
"At this stage, the local authorities have confirmed the deaths of three Italian climbers. There remains no news of seven other Italian nationals."
Italy's Foreign Ministry, in a statement
