Nepal is battling twin disasters as a deadly avalanche in the high Himalayas compounds the devastation from last week’s monsoon floods.

An avalanche struck the base camp of Himlung Himal, a 7,126-metre peak in Manang district, on Sunday morning, burying the camp under about four metres of snow and debris. Rescue teams have recovered four bodies so far, identified as Chhebi Bhote, Pasang Bhote, Birendra Gurung and Ghan Shyam Rai, while 12 people remain missing.

The victims were mostly Nepali support staff fixing ropes and setting up camp for a group from the United Arab Emirates due to arrive on October 1. The Nepal National Mountain Guide Association is leading rescue operations, hampered by severe weather.

Separately, heavy rainfall at the end of last week killed at least 21 people across Nepal, with five missing and five injured, the national disaster authority said. Flash flood warnings were issued for 49 of the country’s 77 districts, and dramatic video showed a landslide crashing into the Kali Gandaki river near Lete in Mustang district.

The disasters come weeks after catastrophic August floods killed more than 1,400 people, stretching the country’s rescue resources.