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Google Exec Dies In Quake-Triggered Avalanche

American Google executive Dan Fredinburg is among at least 17 people who died in a huge avalanche on Mount Everest which was triggered by a powerful earthquake in Nepal.

The 33-year-old, who described himself as an adventurer, was hiking with three other Google employees when the avalanche struck on Saturday.

The other three climbers in the group are safe, the tech giant said.

Meanwhile, aftershocks continue to strike region, with the latest reported to have set off new avalanches at Everest base camp and on nearby Mount Makalu, the world's firth highest peak.

Climber Adrian Ballinger tweeted: "Another big one. Really big. Rockfall off surrounding peaks in North Side #everest base camp. Worst possible news for south."

Captain Tim Bradshaw, who had been leading a British Army team up the northern side of the mountain, told Sky News the aftershock felt fairly "violent and aggressive".

"All we can hear is rocks cracking around us, but unfortunately we can't see them coming... It's pretty eerie," he said.

There have been no immediate reports of more casualties.

The aftershock struck as the first plane carrying 15 badly injured climbers landed back in Kathmandu.

The heavily bandaged survivors, including three from China, Japan and South Korea, were pictured travelling through the city shortly after touching down.

Saturday's earthquake, which has killed over 2,200 people, triggered the deadly avalanche, which began on Mount Kumori, a mountain just a few miles from Everest.

It gathered strength as it headed toward the base camp where climbing expeditions prepare to make their summit attempts.

Tourism ministry officials estimate that at least 1,000 climbers, including some 400 foreigners, were at base camp or on the ascent to the peak as the earthquake struck.

Simon Lowe, managing director of Jagged Globe that plans trips to the mountain, told Sky News: "It pulled down snow, rock and ice and took out about a centre-third of base camp and people in the area ran as best they could."

Officials at Nepal's mountaineering department said 17 bodies have so far been recovered, with the death toll expected to rise.

US-based Madison Mountaineering said its base camp doctor, Marisa Eve Girawong, is among the dead, while New Zealand-based Adventure Consultants said two Nepali members of staff were killed.

Mr Fredinburg's sister, Megan, wrote on his Instagram page: "I regret to inform all who loved him that during the avalanche on Everest early this morning our Dan suffered from a major head injury and didn't make it.

"We appreciate all of the love that has been sent our way thus far and know his soul and his spirit will live on in so many of us.

"All our love and thanks to those who shared this life with our favourite hilarious strong willed man. He was and is everything to us."

Climbing teams are scattered across base camp to search for survivors and rescue those who have been stranded.

Mr Lowe said some climbers were left trapped in Everest camps 1 and 2, above base camp, on the route leading to the top of the world's highest peak.

But he said the vast majority are safe: "The teams higher up the mountain, at camp 1 and camp 2, are safe. There are very many safe shelters at base camp."

Among the stranded Britons was Daniel Mazur, a Summit Climb expedition leader from Bristol, who tweeted: "A massive earthquake just hit Everest. Basecamp has been severely damaged. Our team is caught in camp 1. Please pray for everyone."

Azim Afif, leading a climbing team from the University of Technology in Malaysia, said his base camp group was in a tent waiting for lunch when suddenly the table and everything around them began shaking.

He said when they ran outside, they saw "a wall of ice coming towards us," and heard the cries of sherpa guides shouting for people to run for their lives.

Romanian climber Alex Gavan tweeted: "Many dead. Much more badly injured. More to die if not heli asap."

:: The Foreign Office has advised that any British Nationals in need of consular assistance call +44 (0) 207 008 0000 or text NEPAL to +447860010026.