Dozens of Israelis Stranded in Himalayan Village After Landslides Block Routes

Dozens of Israeli travelers have been stranded since overnight Saturday into Sunday in the village of Samagaun, in the Manaslu region of the Nepalese Himalayas, after extreme weather and rockslides blocked access routes. The village sits at an elevation of about 3,500 meters, and the difficult terrain has made leaving it extremely challenging.

The travelers reported that the village has no electricity and that several landslides occurred overnight near the homes where they are staying. One Israeli at the site told Kan News, "Every few hours, we hear an enormous boom, as if the entire ground is collapsing." According to him, dozens of Israelis are there, along with travelers from other countries and local residents.

Some of the roads and bridges in the area are impassable because of the weather, and the Israelis are struggling to leave the village by land. Insurance companies and local travel agencies have already been activated in an effort to facilitate their rescue, but at this stage it is not possible to evacuate all the travelers.

Reports from the area were also confirmed by media outlets in Nepal. Before dawn, a landslide occurred above Samagaun following days of heavy rain in the region. The powerful noise woke hundreds of travelers and staff members staying in the village. As of the morning hours, no injuries had been reported in Samagaun.

The landslide is part of a severe weather system that has hit Nepal in recent days. Heavy rains have caused flooding and landslides in different parts of the country, blocking roads and washing away bridges. At least six people have been killed and five others are listed as missing in separate incidents across Nepal. Meanwhile, in India’s Uttar Pradesh region, at least 15 deaths and five injuries were reported over the past two days, along with extensive property damage.