Avalanche kills at least 12 people on Mount Everest

An avalanche on Mount Everest has left at least 12 Sherpa guides dead in what is thought to be the deadliest climbing tragedy on the mountain.

The avalanche struck around 06:45 local time (01:00 GMT) in an area known as the "popcorn field", just above Everest base camp at 5,800m (19,000ft).

A spokesman for Nepal's tourism ministry told the BBC some missing climbers had been rescued, but more are still missing.

Surendra Phuyal reports from Kathmandu.

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