An avalanche swept through a camp on Mount Yalung Ri in Nepal, killing five foreign climbers and two Nepali guides, officials said.
Shailendra Thapa, an armed police force spokesperson, said five other people were injured at the base camp, located at 4,900 metres (16,070 ft).
The nationalities and identities of the foreign climbers had not been officially confirmed, but local media reported three were US citizens, one was Canadian and one Italian.
Weather has been deteriorating across Nepal since last week, with snowstorms reported on the mountains.
Rescuers were reaching the site on foot. A rescue helicopter attempted to reach the area but turned back because of bad weather; officials said it would try again at dawn on Tuesday.
Mount Yalung Ri is a 5,600-metre peak, considered suitable for beginners with no prior high-mountain experience.
Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 14 tallest peaks, including Mount Everest. Spring is the most popular climbing season when weather is most favorable, though hundreds of foreign climbers also attempt smaller peaks in autumn between the monsoon and winter.
