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First blogging from Everest about what happened. At least TWO Sherpa killed, many missing.

“Early Friday morning, April 18th, an avalanche off the West Shoulder of Everest has buried climbers, mostly if not all were Sherpa, working to carry loads to Camps 1 and 2. At least two Sherpa are confirmed killed in avalanche and at least two have been rescued but many more are missing

Remember that early report are always wrong so please consider this as an early report. However, I have eyewitness reports.

Rescue is underway and helicopters have been called. All climbing has stopped for the day.

The avalanche hit just below Camp 1 and above the top of the Khumbu Icefall according to eyewitness reports.

Gavin Turner climbing just below the avalanche reported this just now:

I am safely back at Base Camp.

I was climbing through the icefall this morning at about 6am when a very large avalanche struck a couple of hundred meters above us. I was with my incredible Sherpa, Phu Tsering. We watched the enormous avalanche cloud approach us and we were both covered in snow dust. After some initial concern, we knew we were safe and essentially out of harms way. Phu Tsering chanted some Buddhist prayers and made an offering to the mountain. The avalanche cloud covered us, but fortunately we were a couple of hundred meters under the impact zone.

There were many climbers and Sherpas above us, higher in the icefall, and an unknown number of them (reportedly all Sherpas) have been killed and injured. The rescue is underway and many Sherpas and westerners were rushing up the mountain to assist in the rescue as I was descending.

I am extremely grateful to be back at base camp and feel deeply saddened and shocked at the loss of life today.

My prayers are with all touched by this tragedy.....”

http://www.alanarnette.com/blog/2014/04/17/everest-2014-avalanche-near-camp-1-sherpa-deaths/