Rescuers are continuing the search for 12 people missing after an avalanche on Himlung Himal in Nepal killed at least two expedition workers during severe weather.

At least 10 individuals have been rescued from the 7,126-meter (23,380-foot) peak, located in north-central Nepal, following the incident on Sunday. The avalanche struck while workers were at base camp, preparing for the arrival of foreign clients for the autumn climbing season.

Two bodies were recovered and airlifted on Monday to Kathmandu for identification. Tul Singh Gurung, president of the Nepal National Mountain Guide Association, confirmed the fatalities and stated that the search for the remaining missing expedition workers was ongoing. A team of eight mountain guides is involved in the operation, and all individuals involved were Nepali nationals.

The incident occurred as Nepal has been experiencing severe weather conditions, with heavy rainfall reported in the Manang district, where Himlung Himal is situated. Flooding and landslides have also been reported in the region over the weekend.

The nation has been issuing widespread weather warnings, and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) reported that 21 other people had died and five were missing across the country between Thursday and Sunday due to various weather-related incidents. This avalanche adds to the ongoing challenges faced by the country, which is still recovering from devastating floods in August that resulted in over 1,400 deaths.

The August floods, which swept away several villages, left an estimated 5,500 people missing and over 13,000 rescued, according to NDRRMA figures. Researchers have described the flood disaster as a "compound crisis" influenced by long-term warming, glacier melt, and geological instability.

Experts have previously warned about the increasing risks in the Himalayas due to climate change. A recent report highlighted how glacier collapse in Nepal can trigger flash floods and mudslides, potentially damming rivers and creating new threats.

Questions remain about the full extent of the casualties and the impact of the severe weather on other mountainous regions of Nepal. The ongoing search and rescue operations are being hampered by the challenging conditions.