Bodies of South Korean trekkers, local guides recovered in Nepal

In this Oct. 24, 2014, file photo, trekkers watch the sunrise over the Annapurna Range, right, in central Nepal, as viewed from Poon Hill, above the village of Ghorepani. Rescuers on Sunday, April 26, 2020, recovered the bodies of two South Korean trekkers who were missing since January when an avalanche buried them in Nepal’s mountains, officials said. An army helicopter flew the bodies of one male and one female to Pokhara from the Annapurna Trekking Circuit, said Nepalese army official Maj. Gen. Gokul Bhandari. (AP Photo/Malcolm Foster, File)

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Rescuers recovered the bodies of the last of four South Korean trekkers and their Nepali guide who died in an avalanche in January in Nepal’s mountains, officials said Friday.

Two bodies were dug up on Friday, one South Korean and one Nepali, but bad weather stopped helicopters from reaching the site, said Nepalese army official Maj. Gen. Gokul Bhandari.

The other bodies were recovered last month.

The team of four South Koreans and three guides died on the popular Annapurna Circuit Trekking route. Rescuers had spent weeks searching for them, but continuing avalanches and thick layers of snow hampered the operation.

The warm spring weather melted the snow, exposing the bodies on the trial.