Everest base camp," Mr. Rita said by telephone Monday from the camp in eastern Nepal, in the aftermath of the earthquake that set off the avalanche and geological convulsions there. At least 18 people died in the area of the camp, which is 18,000 feet above sea level. "This is a huge, huge avalanche," he said.

The search for victims' bodies around the camp, where mountaineers gather before trying to reach Everest's summit, is likely to be long and difficult.

Rescue efforts stalled on Monday because of bad weather, after 20 stranded climbers had been evacuated and 11 bodies had been retrieved, Jhankanath Dhakal, the chief district officer of Solukhumbu District, which includes Nepal's part of Everest, said in a telephone interview.