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Mount Everest avalanche leaves at least 9 dead

359103_Everest-Nepal-avalanche

An avalanche on Mount Everest has killed at least nine people and left seven others missing in what may be the most deadly single accident in the mountain’s history.

At least nine local climbers have been killed and three injured after an avalanche at the height of 5,800 meters (19028 feet) happened on the mountain late Thursday, an official from the mountaineering division of the Nepalese Tourism Ministry said on Friday.

All the victims are believed to be Nepalese guides known as Sherpas.

The avalanche hit the Sherpa guides as they were preparing a trail on the mountain which will guide hundreds of climbers in the summer climbing season.

“The Sherpa guides were carrying up equipment and other necessities for climbers, when the disaster happened,” said Tourism Ministry spokesman, Mohan Krishna Sapkota.

Three injured climbers were taken to a medical center.

The incident marks the latest in a series of accidents on the world’s tallest mountain.

Eight people died on Mount Everest last year during an ice fall, which raised fears that the mountain has become too crowded.

Everest is a key source of revenue for Nepal and hundreds of climbers scale the mountain every year during the peak climbing seasons of April and May.

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