Nepalese search teams look for bodies after avalanche

Isabelle Solange survived an avalanche on Mount Yalung Ri (Niranjan Shrestha/AP)

Search teams are digging through ice and snow on a mountain in Nepal in a bid to recover the bodies of seven climbers who were killed by an avalanche.

The avalanche hit the base camp at Mount Yalung Ri, located at 4,900 metres (16,070 feet), on Monday morning. Snowstorms prevented rescuers from reaching the site on the day.

Improving weather allowed a helicopter to reach the base camp on Tuesday and rescuers were able to begin sifting through the snow and ice.

Didier Armand is being treated in hospital (Niranjan Shrestha/AP)

Dolkha district police chief Gyan Kumar Mahato said four climbers who were injured in the avalanche were rescued by the helicopter and flown to the capital Kathmandu for treatment.

Two French nationals are being treated at the Era Hosptial in Kathmandu.

Isabelle Solange Thaon, 54, said she lost her husband, identified as Christian Manfred, in the avalanche but was lucky to have survived with another French climber, Didier Armand.

“We were lucky because we were on the left,” Ms Thaon said from her hospital bed. “And we leap (over the) rocks and we swim along and after we were in the snow and after someone came immediately (to help).”

“Unfortunately, Christian died… It was not possible because of rocks hit his head,” she said, adding she was lucky because she was not covered by the snow piled up by the avalanche.

“The other people were under the snow, they said they think it was six metres (20ft) under snow so it was completely dead in front. It was not possible to help them.”

Also among those killed were two Nepali mountain guides, but the identity of the remaining four was still unclear.

At least three bodies were pulled out of the snow by Tuesday afternoon, he said.

Mount Yalung Ri is a 5,600m (18,370ft) peak, considered suitable for beginner climbers.