Avalanche at Himlung Himal base camp kills 15 Nepali workers; one missing
An avalanche buried the Himlung Himal base camp in Nepal's Manang district over the weekend, killing 15 Nepali workers preparing it for climbers. One worker is still missing and the rescue is expected to wind up.
Updated (version 2). New coverage since the last version from Arab News, The Hindu.
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The story, neutrally told
At least 15 Nepali workers were killed when an avalanche buried the base camp of the 7,126-metre Himlung Himal in Nepal's northern Manang district, where they were pitching tents and fixing ropes for foreign climbers. Arab NewsRC “The avalanche buried the base camp of the 7,126-meter (23,379-foot) Himlung Himal mountain in the northern Manang district” Read at Arab News ↗ The Times of IndiaN “burying workers who were pitching tents and fixing ropes ahead of the arrival of foreign climbers” Read at The Times of India ↗ The avalanche hit early on Sunday, and the foreign climbers had not yet reached the site. CNAN “The avalanche swept through the base camp of the 7,126m Himlung peak early on Sunday” Read at CNA ↗ The HinduLC “The foreign climbers had not reached the site at the time of the avalanche.” Read at The Hindu ↗ Tul Singh Gurung, president of the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, said rescuers have recovered 15 bodies, eight of them on Thursday 1 October and seven earlier in the week. Arab NewsRC “Eight bodies were recovered from under the snow on Thursday while the other seven were retrieved earlier this week.” Read at Arab News ↗ The HinduLC “Rescuers have so far recovered 15 bodies from the site,” Read at The Hindu ↗
One worker remains missing. Gurung said the chances of finding that person were dim and the rescue was likely to wind up, though CNA quoted him as saying "We are hopeful the last person will be found too." The bodies recovered on Thursday were expected to be flown to Kathmandu by helicopter. Arab NewsRC “He said chances of finding the one missing worker were dim and the rescue operation is likely to wind up.” Read at Arab News ↗ CNAN “"We are hopeful the last person will be found too," he added.” Read at CNA ↗ CNA describes 16 workers as buried and says an eleven-strong team, including experienced guides, dug through more than 4m of snow. Its day-by-day account has two guides' bodies recovered on Sunday, two kitchen staff on Monday and three on Tuesday. CNAN “A team of eleven rescuers, including experienced guides, were at the site, digging through more than 4m of snow which had buried tents at the base camp.”“The bodies of two mountain guides were recovered on Sunday, and those of two kitchen staff were pulled out on Monday, followed by another three bodies on Tuesday.” Read at CNA ↗ The Times of India reports that 14 staff from Himalayan Holidays and two kitchen workers from Imagine Nepal Treks were caught in the avalanche, and that the camp was being prepared for a 14-member all-women climbing group from a school in the UAE. Earlier reports had given a lower number of missing, which was revised after information came from the remote site. The Times of IndiaN “14 staff from Himalayan Holidays and two kitchen workers from Imagine Nepal Treks had initially been caught in the avalanche.”“a 14-member all-women climbing group from a school in the UAE” Read at The Times of India ↗
The Times of India says the avalanche followed persistent rain and heavy snowfall, and that poor weather and difficult access hampered rescue. It names two of the dead guides as Pasang Bhote and Chhebi Bhote. The Times of IndiaN “The avalanche hit after persistent rain and heavy snowfall in the Himlung Himal area.”“Two bodies recovered earlier were identified by search team members as climbing guides Pasang Bhote and Chhebi Bhote.” Read at The Times of India ↗ Reuters, carried by Hindustan Times, Arab News and The Hindu, calls it the deadliest incident of the autumn climbing season, which ends this month. CNA calls it one of the worst mountain disasters in recent years, noting that 16 died in the 2014 Everest avalanche and 18 in the 2015 earthquake. Arab NewsRC “in the deadliest incident of the Autumn climbing season ending this month” Read at Arab News ↗ CNAN “Nepal's worst mountaineering disasters in recent years occurred in 2014, when an avalanche killed 16 people on Everest, and in 2015, when an earthquake killed 18 people, also on Everest.” Read at CNA ↗ Reuters adds that climate change is accelerating glacier and ice melt, making work in the mountains more dangerous. CNA places the avalanche amid other disasters: an Aug 26 glacial collapse flood that killed more than 1,400 people, and new floods and landslides that killed at least 21 since Thursday, according to the national disaster agency. The HinduLC “as climate change accelerates melting of glaciers and ice, the work is becoming increasingly perilous.” Read at The Hindu ↗ CNAN “Heavy rain since Thursday has triggered more floods and landslides, killing at least 21 people, according to the national disaster agency.” Read at CNA ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Runs the Reuters report with Gurung's recovery update as the lede, adding a link to another Nepal weather disaster.
- Emphasis
- Toll, rescue update and climate change making mountain work perilous.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No employers, UAE group, weather or historical comparisons.
- For example
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“as climate change accelerates melting of glaciers and ice, the work is becoming increasingly perilous.” — The Hindu
Centre3 outlets
- Framing
- Straight disaster reporting led by the death toll and Gurung's rescue update. The Times of India adds detail on the expedition companies and weather. CNA adds historical and national disaster context.
- Emphasis
- Toll, rescue progress, danger to mountain workers, climate change and wider Nepal disasters.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Only the Times of India names the employers, the UAE school group and the weather. Only CNA gives the daily recovery tally and the 2014 and 2015 comparisons. No outlet reports a cause beyond weather and snow conditions, or any official inquiry.
- For example
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“in one of the worst mountain disasters in recent years” — CNA
“Rescue efforts were hampered by poor weather and difficult access to the base camp.” — The Times of India
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Runs the Reuters report unchanged, led by a rescue official's statement on the death toll.
- Emphasis
- Toll, rescue winding up, and tourism work becoming more perilous with climate change.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No employers, UAE group, weather, daily tally or wider disaster context.
- For example
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“At least 15 Nepali workers were killed when an avalanche buried a mountain camp they were preparing in central Nepal for foreign climbers” — Arab News
What every side reports
- At least 15 Nepali workers died when an avalanche buried the Himlung Himal base camp in Manang district over the weekend.
- Gurung, of the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, said 15 bodies have been recovered, eight on Thursday, and one worker is missing.
- Foreign climbers had not yet arrived at the site.
- Reuters-based reports call it the deadliest incident of the autumn climbing season.
Where accounts differ
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Number buried and outlook for the missing worker
- Left
- The Hindu (Reuters text) says chances of finding the missing worker are dim and the rescue is likely to wind up.
- Centre
- CNA says 16 workers were buried and quotes Gurung as hopeful the last person will be found; Times of India says Gurung put the chances as dim.
- Right
- Arab News (Reuters text) says chances of finding the missing worker are dim and the rescue is likely to wind up.
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Rescuers have recovered 15 bodies from the Himlung Himal base camp, with one worker still missing
Reported- Reports 5
- The Hindu, CNA, Hindustan Times, The Times of India, Arab News
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The avalanche is the deadliest incident of Nepal's autumn climbing season
Reported- Reports 5
- The Hindu, CNA, Hindustan Times, The Times of India, Arab News
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The avalanche struck over the weekend, before foreign climbers had arrived
Reported- Reports 5
- The Hindu, CNA, Hindustan Times, The Times of India, Arab News
Nepal National Mountain Guide Association organisation
Its president, Tul Singh Gurung, gave the recovery tally and said the chances of finding the missing worker were dim and the rescue likely to wind up; CNA quotes him as hopeful the last person would be found.
“Rescuers have so far recovered 15 bodies from the site, said Tul Singh Gurung” — Arab News
“"We are hopeful the last person will be found too," he added.” — CNA
Left1 article
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Avalanche kills 15 Nepali workers preparing Himalayan mountain camp for climbers
Neutral Reuters copy carried by The Hindu, with a pointer to another Nepal weather disaster.
Centre3 articles
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Hindustan TimesN · · via Reuters
Avalanche kills 15 Nepali workers preparing Himalayan mountain camp for climbers
Neutral Reuters copy carried by Hindustan Times: concise toll and rescue update, with a closing note on climate change raising risk for mountain workers.
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CNAN ·
Nepal rescuers recover eight bodies after Himalayan avalanche
Neutral Leads with the eight bodies recovered, then gives the recovery timeline, historical comparisons and the wider run of Nepal disasters.
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Nepal avalanche kills 15 workers at Himlung Himal camp, one still missing
Neutral Reuters-based report with added detail on the employers, the UAE school group, weather and the names of two dead guides.
Right1 article
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Arab NewsRC · · via Reuters
Avalanche kills 15 Nepali workers preparing Himalayan mountain camp for climbers
Neutral Reuters copy carried by Arab News: toll and rescue update with a climate-change note.
- 1 Oct 14:02 First Hindustan TimesN Avalanche kills 15 Nepali workers preparing Himalayan mountain camp for climbers via Reuters
- 1 Oct 14:28 +26m CNAN Nepal rescuers recover eight bodies after Himalayan avalanche
- 1 Oct 14:30 +29m The Times of IndiaN Nepal avalanche kills 15 workers at Himlung Himal camp, one still missing
- 1 Oct 15:21 +1h 20m Arab NewsRC Avalanche kills 15 Nepali workers preparing Himalayan mountain camp for climbers via Reuters
- 1 Oct 15:55 +1h 53m The HinduLC Avalanche kills 15 Nepali workers preparing Himalayan mountain camp for climbers
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.