Autumn 2026: Record Permits, and Two Deaths Before the Summit Push
| Event date | Early to mid September 2026 (reported 17 September) |
|---|---|
| Location | Near Camp II (~6,000 m) and Manaslu Base Camp |
| Type | Climbing accident; regulation and permits |
| Permits | 480 foreign climbers per The Himalayan Times (354 men, 126 women); about 493 per Explorersweb |
| Permit fee | US$3,000 per foreign climber in autumn |
| Deaths | 2 (Lau Wee Seng; Tashi Sherpa) |
| Verification | Verified (causes of death not officially established) |
| Status | Historical |
Manaslu drew a record number of foreign climbers in autumn 2026. The Himalayan Times reported 480 foreign permits (354 men and 126 women), worth US$1.44 million in royalties at the autumn rate of US$3,000 each, while Explorersweb put the figure at about 493. More than 500 Nepali guides and support staff were on the mountain with them.
Two people died before the main summit push. Singaporean climber Lau Wee Seng (50) felt unwell descending from an acclimatisation rotation and died while resting near Camp II at about 6,000 metres; a heart attack was suspected but not officially confirmed. Earlier in the season, Tashi Sherpa (20), a local porter, was found dead in a tent at Base Camp where a generator had been placed without others being told.
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.