Nearly all the trekkers missing in a blizzard that killed at least 39 in Nepal have been rescued, authorities say.
About 400 trekkers have been rescued from the Annapurna circuit in central Nepal and the mountains of the western district of Dolpa.
"There are 19 people missing, but the rescue operation is more or less in its last phase for now," said Ramesh Dhamala of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal.
"A New Zealander and a Nepali were rescued in Manang district. A total of 22 army personnel with the help of locals are searching the Thorong La region for 11 people who are still missing," said Devendra Lamichanne, the chief district officer of Manang.
"Three Nepalis, four Canadians, three Indian and a Japanese trekker are still missing. We can't say anything about their condition so far." In the neighbouring Mustang district, authorities said all but eight of the trekkers had been rescued so far.
"We were able to contact eight Nepalis in the Hidden Valley in Mustang, which is at an elevation of about 19,000 feet (5791 metres). We need a high-altitude helicopter to airlift them, so we're waiting for that to arrive," chief district officer Baburam Bhattarai said.
In the adjoining Dolpa district, the authorities said no deaths related to Tuesday's snowstorm had been reported so far, although the local media speculated that some trekkers could be missing.
A handout picture made available by the Nepalese Army shows members of the army pulling the body of a trekker from the Thorung La mountain pass on the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. (EPA)
"On Saturday, we rescued seven Czech citizens and eight Nepalis from the Mount Putha region in Upper Dolpa. We also airlifted a New Zealander," chief district officer Krishna Kumar Khanal said.
Khanal said five Spaniards and five Nepalis were airlifted from Charkka region in Dolpa, but their rescue was not related to the snowstorm that hit in the aftermath of Cyclone Hudhud in neighbouring India.
Aussie trekkers rescued in Nepal
The Department of Foreign Affairs says they have not received any reports of Australian casualties from Nepal's deadly snowstorm so far.
Several Australians have been rescued in Nepal's deadly snowstorm but there are no reports of casualties so far, the Department of Foreign Affairs says.
At least 39 people are reported to have died since Tuesday's avalanches and about 400 trekkers have been rescued from the Annapurna circuit in central Nepal and the mountains of the western district of Dolpa.
Local authorities say nearly all the trekkers missing in the blizzard have been rescued.
A number of Australians have been rescued, a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.
However for privacy reasons the department says it can not provide further details.
"Nepalese authorities continue to advise there are no reports of Australian casualties, so far," the spokesperson said.
DFAT advises those concerned for the welfare of family and friends in Nepal should first try to directly contact them or their tour company.
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