A group of South Korean climbers have been killed in Nepal after their expedition on a Himalayan peak was hit by a storm.

Nepali police said on Saturday (October 13) that at least seven climbers were killed in the accident, including the South Koreans and their Nepali guides.

Nine climbers in total were missing after the storm.

Police said the seven bodies were found by villagers who reached the base of the remote Mount Gurja in the country's west.

The area is very difficult to reach by foot.

It's Nepal's worst climbing accident in two years.

One of the rescuers spoke to Reuters from the capital, Kathmandu, saying an avalanche had swept away the expedition's camp.

Mount Gurja lies around 130 miles from the capital.

The rescuers said they will try to reach the expedition's base camp again once conditions improve.

Nepal's Himalaya are home to eight of the world's tallest mountains.

And the autumn climbing season is currently at its peak.

Foreign climbing and trekking expeditions who venture into the Himalaya are a major source of income for cash-strapped Nepal.