A suspected gas explosion sparks a fire that destroys a hotel near Nepal's Everest base camp as snowstorms block rescuers

Hotel Good Luck in Dingboche, at 4,410 metres on the trekking route to Everest base camp, was gutted by fire that started in its kitchen at around 11am local time on Friday. Owner Kul Bahadur Tamang said everyone inside — all guests and staff — got out safely from the 17-room lodge. British travel blogger Callan Bowl, who captured footage at the scene, said heavy snowfall and avalanche risk had left the area completely cut off from outside assistance.

Guide Arjun Gurung said firefighters were overwhelmed: 'We could do nothing but watch the building burn to ashes.'

Several gas cylinders stored in the kitchen made the fire extremely hard to contain, and the building's predominantly wooden construction fed the blaze further.

A large amount of cash held on the premises is also thought to have been lost, as the isolated village has no access to nearby banking facilities.