Beijing: Over 400 mountain climbers on the Tibetan side of Mount Everest have descended or are descending with no casualties reported, Chinese authorities said today.
A 7.9-magnitude quake shook neighbouring Nepal yesterday, causing avalanches on the world's highest mountain, that killed at least 22 climbers and guides on the Nepal side of the mountain. Hundreds of other climbers are still stranded.
Foreign climbers from more than 20 countries including the United States, Russia, the UK are on their way down to the North Base Camp at 5,200 meters, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
A total of 15 Chinese climbers have already descended, it said.
An avalanche in April last year just above the base camp of Everest on the Nepalese side had killed 16 Sherpa guides.
Mount Everest, the world's highest peak at 8,848 metre, is scaled by hundreds of climbers every year from both Nepealese and Chinese side. The peak was first conquered by New Zealand climber Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.
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