(Photo: CGTN)

At least eight climbers died on Nepal's Mount Gurja after their camp was devastated by a violent snowstorm on Friday evening, AFP reported citing officials. 

"Eight people including members of a South Korean expedition team have been killed in western Nepal apparently due to a snowstorm," said police spokesman Sailesh Thapa. 

Thapa said a ninth climber may also be missing.

Wangchu Sherpa, the managing director at Trekking Camp Nepal, said that five Korean climbers were killed in the incident on Friday evening, according to The Himalayan Times.

A heavy snowstorm followed by a landslide buried the base camp at 3,500 meters when the climbers were waiting for better weather to head toward the high camp, Sherpa quoted eyewitnesses as saying.

Rescue helicopters were sent early Saturday, the report said.