The four Portuguese citizens had been taking part in a climbing expedition in the Himalayas, but emerged from the catastrophe “alive and well”, despite the difficulties resulting from the devastating earthquake in Nepal.
Speaking to Lusa News Agency on Monday via text message, one of the four, Luís Almeida, wrote that the Portuguese members of the expedition “are all okay” although they were in a “very remote” area and facing “adverse climatic conditions”.
Because of the quake, he added, “the trail was non-existent or was cut off by avalanches or land and rockslides, making the route more difficult.”
The group had to set up base camp at around 4,400 metres altitude, he said, adding that they scaled a peak of “only” 5,480 metres from there in four hours.
The four Portuguese climbers, who are from Coimbra and Oporto, did not seek help and on Monday were trying to reach a nearby village, Tal, according to a member of one of their families.
Saturday’s quake in Nepal, which measured 7.9 on the Richter scale, claimed more than 4,000 lives and injured over 6,500 people, according to the authorities there.
India and several other countries have sent rescue teams and aid, as has the European Union.
Nepal’s Prime Minister has said the death toll could more than double.
The Portuguese non-governmental AMI Foundation has offered €200,000 to help the victims of the devastating quake.
“This assistance will be available to the population most affected by the disaster, through partnerships that AMI has maintained for years with several local NGOs in Nepal and surrounding countries (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and China) whose information, speed and reliability of operation are recognised by AMI”, the foundation said.
For further information on AMI, visit www.ami.org.pt.