The deadliest avalanche in Mount Everest's history has occurred, with a surviving Nepalese mountaineering guide recounting his "trapped" experience, still shaken.
Media reports vary on the death toll, with AFP stating that at least 12 Nepalese guides were killed in yesterday’s incident, while NBC News reported the number had risen to 13.
The avalanche was so powerful that it left Dawa Tashi Sherpa, 22, with broken ribs and a fractured shoulder blade, buried under snow up to his neck. But he survived and was rescued, then taken to a hospital in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu. Doctors said he suffered multiple injuries but was in stable condition.
Dawa Tashi Sherpa said: "I don’t know how I survived."
He told AFP from his hospital bed: "I am a lucky survivor." His wife is waiting to see him and is five months pregnant with their first child.
He also said: "The avalanche happened out of nowhere, huge chunks of snow came crashing down toward us."
"I tried to run, but there wasn’t enough time, and we got trapped."
Mohan Krishna Sapkota, a spokesperson for Nepal's Tourism Ministry, earlier stated that all the victims were Nepalese and had been preparing routes for the upcoming summer climbing season.
Sapkota told AFP: "The guides were transporting equipment and other necessities for other climbers when the disaster struck." 1030419
(Central News Agency)