Seven dead and two missing after storm sweeps Gurja Himal mountain in Nepal

Seven people, including South Korean climbers, were killed and two more are missing on Gurja Himal mountain after a strong storm swept through their base camp, Nepalese police said.

A storm on Friday night destroyed their camp and two rescue helicopters sent early on Saturday were unable to land because of bad weather conditions on the mountain, said police official Bir Bahadur Budamagar.

Villagers who reached base camp on Saturday afternoon found the bodies of four South Korean climbers, two Nepalese guides and another person yet to be identified.

The search was continuing for two more, Mr Budamagar said.

There were five South Korean climbers and four Nepalese guides in the camp when the strong storm hit.

It was unlikely the weather would clear on Saturday and helicopter flights were likely to be possible only on Sunday.

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A police team is heading toward the base camp on foot and is likely to reach there on Sunday, Mr Budamagar added.

The climbers were attempting to scale the 7,193-metre peak during the autumn climbing season.