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Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts) Mon Apr 27, 2015, 09:02 AM Apr 2015

'We're in a race against time...': Desperate rescue mission launched to save stranded on Everest

HUNDREDS OF CLIMBERS STRANDED ON EVEREST AWAITING RESCUE

More than 700 climbers are stranded on Mount Everest awaiting helicopters after the avalanche blocked off all access points.

Between 17 and 19 people were killed when ice and rock crushed the base camp on Saturday.

On Sunday morning, a fleet of six helicopters managed to lift 22 of the most injured climbers and sherpas to Kathmandu for treatment.

But bad weather, continued aftershocks, and poor communication has scuppered subsequent trips, leaving hundreds stranded.

The avalanche started on the nearby 23,000-foot Mount Kimori, which sent ice and rock speeding down the mountain towards the base camp.

Aftershocks, measuring around 6 on the Richter scale, have continued to pile snow on to the remaining trails, meaning it is no longer safe to attempt a climb down.

A desperate helicopter rescue mission is under way on Everest following huge earthquake-triggered avalanches, with one British mountaineer there speaking of a 'race against time' to pluck around 120 people to safety as food runs out.

Fear was etched on the faces of the climbers as they saw the cloud of snow and debris hurtling towards the camp in the Himalayas

Video footage shows climbers emerging from their tents to find the Everest Base Camp flattened

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3056573/How-amateur-video-footage-captured-dramatic-moment-Nepal-earthquake-hit.html

17 replies

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Highlight:

'We're in a race against time...': Desperate rescue mission launched to save stranded on Everest (Original Post) Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 OP

The graphic shows 30+ at or above Camp 1. Are the remaining 670+/- at Base camp? morningfog Apr 2015 #1

That's what I've been able to understand. The large majority Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #2

Right in the path? JeaneRaye Apr 2015 #5

It was, but base camp is pretty big, and only part of it was obliterated. Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #6

Helicopters can take 2 down at a time from Camp 1 (nt) muriel_volestrangler Apr 2015 #13

ANd the use of helicopters on Everest has always been debated cwydro Apr 2015 #3

Yeah, this is one expedition they're not likely to forget Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #4

Gonna be deadliest year on Everest yet. cwydro Apr 2015 #8

CNN International is covering it non-stop, but that's not the Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #10

I know lol - I did see that! cwydro Apr 2015 #14

RUN RUN snooper2 Apr 2015 #7

On Mt. Everest they climb both the North side & the South side... SkyDaddy7 Apr 2015 #12

Yeah, the south side is where most are trapped at this point I think. cwydro Apr 2015 #15

that first one waited quite a while just filming it coming at him! treestar Apr 2015 #17

Oh my treestar Apr 2015 #9

+1. I think the death toll is now over 6,000 people in Nepal... n/t freshwest Apr 2015 #11

Sounds as though this may end Everest climbing for the forseeable future then? alphafemale Apr 2015 #16

morningfog

(18,115 posts)

1. The graphic shows 30+ at or above Camp 1. Are the remaining 670+/- at Base camp?

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Original post)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 09:30 AM

Apr 2015

Am I understanding correctly?

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

2. That's what I've been able to understand. The large majority

Reply to morningfog (Reply #1)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 09:34 AM

Apr 2015

of stranded people are at base camp - thank god, because that means they ARE accessible by helicopter, if only the weather will cooperate.

JeaneRaye

(402 posts)

5. Right in the path?

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Reply #2)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 10:03 AM

Apr 2015

Except that the picture above shows that base camp was right in the path of the avalanche.

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

6. It was, but base camp is pretty big, and only part of it was obliterated.

Reply to JeaneRaye (Reply #5)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 10:17 AM

Apr 2015

muriel_volestrangler

(101,321 posts)

13. Helicopters can take 2 down at a time from Camp 1 (nt)

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Reply #2)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 11:28 AM

Apr 2015

cwydro

(51,308 posts)

3. ANd the use of helicopters on Everest has always been debated

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Original post)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 09:40 AM

Apr 2015

because they can trigger MORE avalanches.

Those climbers are in a world of hurt.

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

4. Yeah, this is one expedition they're not likely to forget

Reply to cwydro (Reply #3)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 09:47 AM

Apr 2015

for a LONG time. Little black humor there.

cwydro

(51,308 posts)

8. Gonna be deadliest year on Everest yet.

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Reply #4)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 10:28 AM

Apr 2015

Appreciate the updates.

Here, there's plenty of info about Nepal, but not as much about Everest.

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

10. CNN International is covering it non-stop, but that's not the

Reply to cwydro (Reply #8)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 10:38 AM

Apr 2015

edition you get in the States, I think.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta is front and center, of course.

How the hell did they get him on the ground there, when even the NGOs are backed up in the sky due to the congestion?

He's even done the obligatory operation, already!

cwydro

(51,308 posts)

14. I know lol - I did see that!

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Reply #10)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 12:07 PM

Apr 2015

I think I can get the international edition, plus I'm gonna check out BBC.

snooper2

(30,151 posts)

7. RUN RUN

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Original post)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 10:26 AM

Apr 2015

Doesn't look that bad from this video

Run fuckers!

Of course from this perspective kind of comes at you quick-

SkyDaddy7

(6,045 posts)

12. On Mt. Everest they climb both the North side & the South side...

Reply to snooper2 (Reply #7)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 11:13 AM

Apr 2015

When the earthquake hit it set off multiple avalanches on Everest & the all over the surrounding mountains & I am 99% sure you have posted video of 2 different avalanches. If you notice the weather is crystal clear in one & in the other it is cloudy maybe snowing...Probably on different sides of the mountain. However, I think people were hurt and/or possibly killed on both sides but one side was far worse.