Kathmandu, April 26 (IANS): Eighteen climbers, including foreigners, were killed in an avalanche on Mount Everest triggered by a 7.9-magnitude quake that hit Nepal on Saturday, the Nepal tourism ministry said on Sunday.

"Eighteen climbers have lost their lives and around 20 are missing in the avalanche," Tulsi Prasad Gautam, executive director of the department of tourism, told Xinhua.

Six helicopters were sent to the avalanche-hit area on Saturday, but only two could function due to bad weather.

A few of the injured climbers are being treated in Pheriche village near Lukla. Other climbers were on their way down from the base camp, Gautam said.

"One helicopter was sent this morning to bring the seriously injured to Kathmandu for specialised medical treatment," Gautam added.

The Saturday earthquake has killed nearly 2,000 people. It measured 7.9 on the Richter scale and had its epicentre in Lamjung district, around 75 km northwest of Kathmandu.