Courtesy of The Associated Press

Tayla Whitehead

Staff Writer
@taylaalaaaa

Friday, April 18 marked the day that the single deadliest avalanche ever hit Mount Everest.

The high-altitude avalanche that hit on Friday took place just above base camp in the Khumbu Ice Fall.  The Sherpa guides and climbers had been setting the ropes for their route, setting up camps and acclimatizing when disaster struck.

A group of about 50 people were hit by the avalanche at more than 20,000 feet.

An update of the fatalities has brought the death toll to 13, as another Sherpa guide has died. Of the 50 people, 13 Sherpa guides have been declared dead, 6 in total were injured, and 4 are still missing. The climbers have all been accounted for. Even though the avalanche took place, over 300 foreign climbers have been permitted to climb Mt. Everest in the upcoming months.

“This is our job and there is always a risk of death,” said Jeewan Ghimire of Shangri La Treks.

The tragic accident is a sad reminder of the May 10, 1996 accident when 8 climbers disappeared after a huge storm hit.

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