At least 10 Nepalese climbers who were preparing to lead an expedition in the Himalayas are missing after an avalanche hit a base camp on Sunday morning.
The climb's organisers said the local guides were at a staging point close to the Himlung Himal peak in Manang district when the avalanche struck.
Forecasts showed there was heavy snowfall around the 7,126m (23,380ft) peak in recent days, which lies on Nepal's border with Tibet.
Poor weather has hampered rescue efforts, with helicopters and rescue teams unable to reach the site.
Bibhuti Chand Thakur, of Himalaya Holidays Trekking, told news agency AFP: "Eight members of our expedition team and two more from another company have been reported missing."
The Nepali team had been sent ahead of foreign climbers to prepare the camp, manage the route and fix ropes on the mountain.
Nepal's mountain districts have seen persistent rain and snow in recent days, creating treacherous conditions for the country's economically important climbing tourism industry.
