Avalanche in Everest six killed

Tourism ministry spokesman, Mohan Krishna Sapkota, said the climbers were all Nepalese and were preparing the route to the summit ahead of the summer climbing season which kicks off later this month.

"The sherpa guides were carrying up equipment and other necessities for climbers, when the disaster happened," Sapkota told AFP.

"Rescuers have found two people alive, and they are trying to find six other who are still missing," he said.

Another tourism ministry official said three rescue helicopter had been deployed to scour the site and airlift the injured to safety.

The Kathmandu-based climbing company Himalayan Climbing Guides Nepal confirmed that two of their guides were among the dead and four were missing.