Nepal earthquake came during height of Everest climbing season

The earthquake in Nepal created devastation on Mount Everest during a time when climbers were flocking to the tallest mountain in the world.

Related: Washington Everest teams will need to be helicoptered down

Noted mountaineer and Seattle resident Ed Viesturs, who has climbed Everest himself, talked to KIRO Radio’s Ron and Don on Monday about the disastrously bad timing of the quake for climbers.

“This is the height of the Himalayan climbing season,” Viesturs said. “When this earthquake occurred, it released a torrent of snow and ice avalanches from neighboring peaks, and that torrent of avalanche snow decimated part of base camp and a number of people were killed at base camp, which is normally considered a haven of safety.”

The death toll from the earthquake has climbed past 4,000. Buildings in parts of Kathmandu were reduced to rubble, and there were shortages of food, fuel, electricity and shelter on Monday.

“They don’t have the funds. They don’t have the resources,” Viesturs said. “They’ve never had the standards that we do to build things that are earthquake-proof. This is a country that has a history of huge earthquakes.”

The full Viesturs interview is included in the podcast above.