The search for a hiking group that disappeared in an avalanche last week was called off Monday amid dangerous conditions in an area of the Himalayas where officials say they have had to rescue hundreds of people.

Seven remain missing since last week’s crush on a trail around Mount Annapurna, where tourists flock to see the world"s 10th-highest peak. A slew of military and government officials have joined tourism groups, locals and others to look for the four South Korean hikers and their three Nepali guides, and to bring about 200 people whose lives were in jeopardy to safety.
But avalanches and heavy snowfall have thwarted those operations, the department said. Poor conditions kept a military helicopter with rescue teams from landing Monday.