Avalanche Buries Seven on the Annapurna Base Camp Trail at Deurali
| Event date | 17 January 2020 |
|---|---|
| Location | Between Himalaya and Deurali (Hinku Cave section), Annapurna Base Camp trail, Kaski |
| Type | Avalanche; trekking accident; missing persons |
| Deaths | 7 (four South Korean trekkers and three Nepali guides) |
| Verification | Verified |
| Status | Historical / closed (search ran into spring 2020) |
An avalanche struck the Annapurna Base Camp trail between Himalaya and Deurali, near Hinku Cave, burying a party of four South Korean trekkers and three Nepali guides. The group had started the trek on 15 January despite warnings of bad weather.
Up to five metres of snow at the site made the search extremely slow, and the route was closed. Rescuers only recovered two of the South Korean trekkers’ bodies in April 2020, three months later, and the body of a Nepali high-altitude worker was also recovered afterwards.
The Hinku Cave–Deurali stretch runs along the foot of steep gullies that funnel avalanches straight onto the path, especially in winter and early spring. Trekkers are advised to ask lodge owners at Chhomrong or Himalaya about conditions before crossing it.
Sources
- The Kathmandu Post — bodies of two South Korean trekkers recovered (27 April 2020)
- The Kathmandu Post — "Trekkers return to Annapurna trail after avalanche"
- OnlineKhabar — "Avalanche risk in Annapurna Base Camp trek"
Last reviewed 29 September 2026. Written in Merolog’s own words from the sources listed; where sources disagree, each figure is attributed rather than merged. Spotted an error or a newer figure? Leave a comment on this entry.