Gale-Force Winds Decimate Tents at Camp II on Mount Everest

Strong winds struck Camp II on Mt. Everest, damaging tents and halting the expedition of 50 mountaineers. Winds reached speeds of 80-90 kph, forcing climbers to seek shelter in undamaged tents. While all mountaineers are safe, the expedition will resume once the winds subside and tents are re-installed.

Strong winds blew away several tents at Camp II of Mt Everest on Wednesday, temporarily halting the expedition of a 50-member mountaineers' group staying at the tents, according to an official.

The wind with an estimated speed of 80-90 kph was still hitting the tents till Wednesday evening and is expected to recede by Thursday morning.

''Strong winds blew some tents in the mountain since Wednesday morning as dozens of mountaineers were sheltered in the camp on their way to scale the 8,848.86 metre peak. There were around 50 mountaineers, including from the USA, Iran and Europe, besides the Nepalese mountain guides, when the incident occurred,'' Expedition Manager Chhang Dawa Sherpa of Seven Summit Trek told PTI.

He said that the camps are situated at an altitude of 6,500 metres on Mt Everest, the world's highest, and all the mountaineers were safe and shifted to other safer tents that were intact.

''Now the tents need to be reinstalled once the situation becomes normal on Thursday and the expeditions will move forward,'' he said.

Nepal’s Tourism Board handles the permits for the expedition to Mt Everest and other mountains in the Himalayan nation.

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