Back from avalanche-hit Everest base camp, mountaineers share horrid tales

The earthquake killed at least 18 climbers and guides, including foreigners, the worst single disaster on the world's highest peak.

"We heard a deafening sound around 12 o'clock after we have our meal in the dinning (hall). There were avalanches from Pumari (mountain) and Lola pass. It was severe from Pumari side. It damaged base camps at lower altitudes. Our camp was saved because it was located at a high altitude," said a rescued mountaineer, Narendra Yadav, in Kathmandu.

An amateur video, shot by the mountaineers, shows the mountaineers at the base camp of Mount Everest in the Himalayas running for cover on Saturday (April 25) and looking for their belongings in the badly damaged camp.

"We saw a lot of damages. Limbs of many people were broken. We tried to help as much as possible," said another rescued mountaineer, Nava Kumar.

But luck smiled on them, as weather cleared the next day that facilitated their rescue.

"Next day, help reached us. The helicopter flew down on the second day (of incident) because weather was clear. We left the base camp next day only," added another rescued mountaineer, Fateh Singh Rawat.

Many climbers, who were present at the base camp when the disaster struck, have abandoned their ascent of Everest, the world's tallest peak at 8,850m (29,035 feet).

"All of us were scared. Everybody was eager to leave. Situation was very bad. The route was completely damaged. We didn't get meal at many places. We forced ourselves into the camp against our will," added Yadav.

In the Himalayas, climbing is set to reopen on Mount Everest next week after damage caused by avalanches is repaired.

Thousands of people were still missing in Nepal as food and help began to trickle through to those stranded in remote areas after last week's earthquake which killed 6,250.

The death toll could rise further. Bodies are still being pulled from the debris of ruined buildings, while rescue workers have not been able to reach some remote areas.

The government put the number of injured at more than 14,350.