Nepal finds bodies of nine missing climbers

KATHMANDU, June 26 (Reuters) Searchers in Nepal have found the bodies of nine climbers, including two French nationals, more than eight months after they were buried in an avalanche, a hiking official said today.

The nine were among 18 climbers who went missing in October last year when an avalanche swept through their base camp for the 6,981-metre Kang Guru peak.

''It would take about a week to recover the bodies as they are buried 40 metres (130 feet) in the gorge,'' said Padam Ghale, a trekking official who has coordinated the search for the 18 climbers.

Three Nepali mountaineers were rescued three days after last October's avalanche. The bodies of nine other climbers, including five French nationals, were recovered last year and earlier in 2006.

Thousands of foreign climbers and trekkers visit Nepal each year. The scenic Himalayan region is home to eight of the world's 14 highest mountains, including Mount Everest.

The Kang Guru disaster was one of the worst in recent years.

REUTERS SB RS2132