Search teams have managed to reach the Thorung La Pass and rescue 40 climbers that had been caught in an unseasonal blizzard, in what is believed to be the worst climbing disaster Nepal has seen.

Clear weather meant that helicopters were able to reach the adventurers, who had been stranded at the highest point of the Annapurna circuit, 5,416 metres (17,769 ft) above sea level, when a storm hit the popular Himalayan trekking route.

The rescue of the 40 trekkers at the Thorung La Pass comes after 200 people were rescued on Thursday from other sections of the route.

Nepalese, Canadian, Indian, Israeli, Polish and Slovak trekkers are among the 29 confirmed to have perished in the storm, but the death toll is likely to rise as search teams continue to recover bodies from the snow.

Many of those that died are reported to have left the shelter at Thorung La Pass and try to descend, but became disorientated in the blizzard and froze.