Avalanche Destroys Korean Expedition's Camp III; 15 Killed
| Event date | 10 April 1972 |
|---|---|
| Location | Camp III, about 6,500 m (21,300 ft) |
| Type | Avalanche; climbing accident |
| Deaths | 15 (4 Koreans including the leader, 1 Japanese, 10 Sherpas) |
| Survivors | 3 |
| Verification | Verified (American Alpine Journal record) |
| Status | Historical / closed |
Avalanches overran the Camp III of a South Korean expedition on 10 April 1972, killing fifteen people: four Koreans, among them the expedition leader Kim Ho Sup, one Japanese climber and ten Sherpas. It remains one of the deadliest single accidents in Himalayan climbing.
Three men survived: two Sherpas and the leader’s brother, Kim Yae Sup, who had already lost another brother on Manaslu the year before. They were carried roughly 750 metres down the slope without being buried, then hit by a second avalanche that swept them a further 300 metres, and still managed to dig themselves out.
Sources
- American Alpine Club Publications — Asia, Nepal, Manaslu
- Explorersweb — "Revisiting Manaslu's Two Worst Avalanches: 1972 and 2012"
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.