Search and rescue teams recovered eight more bodies on Thursday from an avalanche site on Himlung Himal in Narpa Bhoomi Rural Municipality-5, Manang. One high-altitude worker is still missing in the disaster.

According to Krishna Prasad Paudel, assistant chief district officer of Manang, the bodies were recovered around the mountain’s base camp and airlifted to Phu village and Chame. “Six bodies were taken to Phu and two were brought to Chame by helicopter. The required legal procedures are being completed,” said Paudel.

The search and rescue team from Nepal National Mountain Guides Association found the eight bodies while combing the avalanche-hit area. The operation has been led by the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations’ mountain guides Pasang Kaji Sherpa and Bikram Karki.

“The conditions were difficult, but we succeeded in recovering the bodies,” said Sherpa. According to the District Administration Office in Manang, the missing person is associated with Himalayan Holidays.

With the latest recovery, the death toll reaches 15. A massive avalanche on September 26 struck 16 Nepali workers and support staff who went missing after the tragedy. They had travelled ahead of foreign climbers to prepare the route and camps. No foreign climbers were at the mountain when the avalanche struck.

Before Thursday’s operation, seven bodies had been recovered. They included Aash Gurung of Gorkha, Suraj Rai of Khotang and Kamal Budha of Rukum, found on Wednesday, as well as Birendra Gurung of Gorkha and Ghanshyam Rai of Khotang recovered on Monday. Chhebi Bhote and Pasang Bhote of Sankhuwasabha were found on Sunday.

Rescue efforts were initially slowed by bad weather and difficult mountain conditions. Helicopters had been kept on standby in Kathmandu and Pokhara, but weather prevented them from reaching the 7,126-metre peak. A rescue team later reached the base camp by helicopter and began searching burial sites.

Himlung is an important peak for climbers seeking experience on mountains above 6,000 metres. The search continues for the final missing worker.