KATHMANDU: The evacuation of stranded mountaineers who had been at Everest camps at a time of avalanche that hit after the earthquake on Saturday, began in earnest on Monday as helicopters were deployed to bring them down to base camp.
The evacuation operation will bring down up to 100 climbers.
Aftershocks hinder rescue efforts in the Himalayan nation as death toll passes 3,700 after a devastating 7.8 magnitude quake near Kathmandu
According to reports from climbers at Everest base camp, a fleet of helicopters were brought in to run shuttles into the camps in the Western Cwm above the icefall – a jumble of ice cliffs and crevasses – where the usual climbing route, equipped with ropes and ladders, was badly damaged by Saturday’s earthquake.
The evacuation got underway as one of those involved in helping organise treatment for injured from base camp described the scenes in the town.
It is now unlikely anyone will be able to climb the mountain for the rest of the year, according to expedition leaders.
Early on Monday morning around three helicopters carried hundreds of climbers, guides and sherpas over the Khumbu crossing and back to base camp. Operations co-ordinator Steve Moffat said several helicopters were already at base camp when the earthquake hit.
“As of 9.30am Nepal-time we have all of our team down from camp one and they are all now safe and sound at Everest base camp.”
Hundreds of people were now at base camp sharing supplies after many tents were destroyed in the avalanche, Mr Moffat said. They would probably start walking to Lukla in coming days, from where they could catch a domestic flight to Kathmandu airport.
Meanwhile, the general manager of Intrepid Travel, Steve Wroe, said it was now unlikely that anyone would climb Mount Everest this year.
“I would be very surprised if any expeditions went ahead at this stage,” he said. Without a safe path across the Khumbu crossing it would be impossible for anyone to get beyond base camp.
