Serac Collapse Sweeps Three Sherpa Guides into Icefall Crevasse
| Event date | 12 April 2023, between about 3 and 4 a.m. |
|---|---|
| Location | Khumbu Icefall |
| Type | Climbing accident; missing persons |
| Deaths | 3 (bodies not recovered) |
| Verification | Verified |
| Status | Historical / closed |
Three Sherpa guides, Lakpa Rita Sherpa, Pemba Tenzing Sherpa and Da Chhiree Sherpa, were coming down through the Khumbu Icefall after carrying expedition supplies up the mountain when a large piece of serac fell and pushed them into a crevasse. Their bodies could not be recovered.
They were the first deaths of the 2023 spring season, which went on to be one of the deadliest Everest has seen. The collapse also destroyed roughly 60 metres of the fixed route, which the icefall team had to rebuild before load-carrying could resume. It was a reminder, nine years after 2014, that the Nepali workers who make the most trips through the icefall carry most of its risk.
Sources
- Alan Arnette — "Everest 2023: First Deaths of Season"
- Everest Chronicle — serac collapse report
- GearJunkie — "3 Sherpas Perish in Avalanche on Mount Everest"
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.