At least nine persons have died when an unexpected snowstorm trapped them at the base camp of Mt Gurja (7,193 m) in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-1, Myagdi district in western Nepal on Thursday.

According to the District Police Office, Myagdi, the deceased Koreans have been identified as Jaehun Lee (Passport No M04612862), Chang Ho Kim (Passport No M85850032), Jin Rim (Passport No M97002378), Young Jik yoo (Passport No M54666498) and Joon Mo Jeong (Passport No M 800519211).

Similarly, deceased Nepali climbers have been identified as Tsering Bhote, 39, of Hatiya Rural Municipality-2, Lakpa Sangbu, 21, of Bhotekhola Rural Municipality-3 of Sankhuwasabha, Phurba Sherba of Sankhuwasabha and Netra Chantyal of Gurja, Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-1, Myagdi.

“One of the Koreans whom I took to the base camp met with an accident. Another 77-year-old Hang Jin Chyayo descended from the base camp after he complained of altitude-related sickness on Thursday. The same night the incident occurred at the base camp,” Guide Lakpa Sherpa of Gurja said, adding, “We came to know about the incident next day when I along with locals went to the base camp to search them.”