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KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) — The world's highest mountain has seen its deadliest-ever disaster today.
As Nepalese Sherpa guides worked to set up ropes for other climbers on Mount Everest, an avalanche swept down the climbing route. At least 12 of the guides were killed, and four others are missing. Several more were hurt.
An injured survivor told relatives that the path up the mountain was unstable just before the avalanche.
Hundreds of climbers, guides and support crews are at Everest's base camp. They've been preparing to climb to the summit when weather conditions will be at their most favorable early next month. They've been setting up camps at higher altitudes, and guides have been fixing routes and ropes on the slopes above.
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146-a-18-(David Tait, mountaineer, in interview)-"job on earth"-Mountaineer David Tait says those who died were undoubtedly preparing the way for western climbers hoping to reach the summit during the usually-favorable weather of early May. COURTESY: Sky News ((mandatory on-air credit)) ((note cut length)) (18 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *146 (04/18/14)££ 00:18 "job on earth"
148-a-16-(David Tait, mountaineer, in interview)-"the snow, luckily"-Mountaineer David Tait says he barely escaped a similar avalanche at this time last year at nearly the exact same spot on Everest. COURTESY: Sky News ((mandatory on-air credit)) ((note cut length)) (18 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *148 (04/18/14)££ 00:16 "the snow, luckily"
APPHOTO DEL140: FILE - in this May 18, 2013 file photo released by mountain guide Adrian Ballinger of Alpenglow Expeditions, a climber pauses on the way to the summit of Mount Everest, in the Khumbu region of the Nepal Himalayas. An avalanche swept down a climbing route on Mount Everest early Friday, April 18, 2014, killing at least 12 Nepalese guides and leaving three missing in the deadliest disaster on the world's highest peak. (AP Photo/Alpenglow Expeditions, Adrian Ballinger, File) (29 May 2013)
<<APPHOTO DEL140 (05/29/13)££
APPHOTO DEL141: FILE - In this May 18, 2013 file photo released by mountain guide Adrian Ballinger of Alpenglow Expeditions, climbers make their way to the summit of Mount Everest, in the Khumbu region of the Nepal Himalayas. An avalanche swept down a climbing route on Mount Everest early Friday, April 18, killing at least 12 Nepalese guides and leaving three missing in the deadliest disaster on the world's highest peak. (AP Photo/Alpenglow Expeditions, Adrian Ballinger, File) MANDATORY CREDIT, EDITORIAL USE ONLY (19 Apr 2014)
<<APPHOTO DEL141 (04/19/14)££
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