POKHARA: The whereabout of seven trekkers including four Korean citizens and three Nepali guides who had gone missing in an avalanche on Friday that swept the Annapurna circuit trekking route, is still unknown.

Police rescued other five avalanche-trapped trekkers and airlifted them to safer places, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Dan Bahadur Karki, adding that rescue operations are underway.

Likewise, more than 100 trekkers left stranded by the disaster were rescued from the Machhapurchhe Base Camp and various places like Chhumrung, Deurali and Himalayan, he said.

Three helicopters were used to rescue them. The avalanche occurred at an altitude of 10,600 feet along the route. Of the rescued tourists, 30 have been taken to Pokhara, Chhumrung.

There might be many trekkers trapped in the avalanche as five to seven feet snow blanketed the areas, said Hari Bhujel, president of Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal, West Region, adding difficulties faced in carrying out rescue operations due to bad weather and chill,