Nepal storm kills several climbers in Himalayan peak Gurja

At least eight climbers died when a violent snowstorm destroyed their camp on a Himalayan peak in western Nepal.

A five-member South Korean expedition team and four Nepali guides were at the base camp of Mount Gurja when the storm struck, police said on Saturday.

A rescue helicopter at the scene confirmed seeing eight bodies in the ruins of the camp, but was unable to stay due to bad weather conditions.

The ninth climber has yet to be found but is feared dead.

"Five South Korean climbers are dead, three Nepalese nationals are also dead. One Nepali guide is missing," police spokesman Sailesh Thapa told the BBC.

Local media report that South Korean climber Kim Chang-ho, the fastest person to summit the world's 14 highest mountains without using supplemental oxygen, is among the dead.

"The camp was completely destroyed," the BBC heard from Myagdi district official Liladhar Adhikari. "[A recovery team] could see the bodies of the climbers scattered near the camp."

He said another recovery team would be sent on Sunday, weather conditions permitting.

Expedition organisers raised the alarm after losing contact with the group, which set off on 7 October, for nearly 24 hours.