The 1996 Everest Storm: Eight Climbers Die on 10–11 May
| Event date | 10–11 May 1996 |
|---|---|
| Location | Southeast Ridge and South Col (Nepal side); Northeast Ridge (Tibet side) |
| Type | Avalanche/storm; climbing accident; major historical event |
| Deaths | 8 in the storm (12 across the whole 1996 season) |
| Verification | Verified |
| Status | Historical / closed |
On 10 May 1996 several commercial teams were high on Everest when a storm moved in during the afternoon, while many climbers were still on the upper mountain after summiting late. Over that night and the following day eight people died on the two main routes.
On the Nepal side the dead were Rob Hall, the New Zealand guide who led Adventure Consultants; his fellow guide Andy Harris; his client Doug Hansen; the Japanese climber Yasuko Namba; and Scott Fischer, the American leader of Mountain Madness. On the Tibet side three members of an Indian Indo-Tibetan Border Police team, Tsewang Samanla, Dorje Morup and Tsewang Paljor, died on the Northeast Ridge.
The disaster became the most widely examined event in Everest’s history, mostly through survivors’ books and later films, and it started a lasting debate about commercial guiding, fixed turnaround times and how many inexperienced clients a single guide can safely look after. Twelve people died on the mountain over the whole 1996 season, at the time the deadliest year recorded there.
Sources
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.