Dozens of Israeli Hikers Stranded in Nepal by Severe Weather

Dozens of Israeli hikers are stranded in the village of Samagaon in Nepal's Manaslu region of the Himalayas due to severe weather conditions. Heavy snow, rain, and rockfalls have blocked roads, damaged bridges, and cut off access, leaving the travelers without electricity and unable to move. There are fears of further landslides and flooding.

One stranded Israeli described their situation as dire, with "almost zero" escape and rescue capabilities and no real protection from further deterioration of conditions. He urged for immediate assistance before any casualties or disappearances occur. The hikers have contacted their insurance companies to expedite rescue efforts.

PassportCard, an insurance company, reported that 40 of its policyholders are affected across Nepal: 17 in the Manaslu region, 17 in the Annapurna region, four in the Tsum Valley, and two near Everest. Four policyholders require medical attention but are not in life-threatening condition, and their evacuation depends on weather improvements.

Magnus Rescue, a company involved in the evacuation, stated that while weather conditions are complex, an "opportunity window" opened on the day of the report, allowing for the commencement of prioritized evacuations. The extreme weather has also led to the suspension of other climbing expeditions.

In a separate incident, ten Nepali climbers and guides were reported missing after a snow avalanche hit the base camp of Mount Himlung. Rescue helicopters and teams were on standby but could not deploy due to the weather. Travel throughout much of Nepal is severely restricted, with many roads blocked and trekking halted. While the weather is forecast to gradually improve over the next day or two, a return to normalcy in the affected areas may take several days.