Dozens of Israelis Stranded in Himalayas Due to Landslides, Seek Urgent Evacuation

Dozens of Israeli tourists are stranded in the village of Samagaon in Nepal's Himalayas after heavy rains and landslides damaged roads and bridges, cutting off their routes. The tourists are unable to continue their trek or return, and are urgently requesting evacuation, but poor weather conditions are hindering rescue efforts, according to Ynet.

Samagaon, a high-altitude village popular for acclimatization on the Manaslu circuit trek, is located at approximately 3,500 meters. Many Israelis had planned a one-day stopover but became trapped when sudden downpours triggered rockfalls and damaged infrastructure. Tourists described the situation as life-threatening, with landslides occurring frequently above them and the risk of floods if further collapses occur.

One Israeli told Ynet, "There are landslides right above us every few hours. We don't need to wait for disaster to strike." Another expressed fear, stating, "There is no electricity, there were rockfalls near us. We miraculously survived." They reported contacting their insurance companies, but were told immediate evacuation was not possible. "We are very concerned and afraid to stay here another night," one said, urging action before casualties occur.

Dana Zarnitzky, 54, described two groups of Israelis totaling nine people, trapped since arriving for acclimatization. She warned that rockfalls could trigger snow and water avalanches, flooding the valley. Yarin Tal, 23, noted the panic among locals, referencing a devastating flood the previous month, and expressed fear of not sleeping due to the constant threat of landslides.

PassportCard insurance company confirmed it is in contact with dozens of Israelis in affected areas, including 17 near Annapurna and 17 near Manaslu, with four requiring medical evacuation when weather permits. The company stated none of its clients are currently in life-threatening danger. The Magnus rescue service has begun evacuating stranded Israelis, prioritizing urgency and condition, with a weather window allowing initial operations. Separately, ten Nepalese mountaineers and guides are missing after an avalanche near Mount Himlung, with rescue efforts delayed by weather. Ascents in the Manaslu and Dhaulagiri regions are also suspended due to heavy snowfall, which began on September 24th.