Nepal earthquake: Mount Everest climbs likely over following quake-triggered avalanches

Climbing Mount Everest could be impossible in 2015 after a route was damaged following avalanches caused by a deadly earthquake that struck Nepal on 25 April.

The news came as Sherpas refused to rebuild the route destroyed by the avalanches because of safety and time issues. It is believed that at least 19 people were killed in the latest snow slides.

This is the second year in a row that climbers cannot access Mount Everest. In 2014, climbs were called off after a deadly avalanche killed 16 Sherpa guides.

Kapindra Rai of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, which controls the so-called "Icefall Doctors" – teams of Sherpas in charge of rebuilding the route – told AP: "It is just not possible to rebuild the route in time for climbers to attempt to scale the peak."

According to a Reuters report, though, the Nepalese government has not officially declared the closure of the climbing season.

"The government will not officially announce the closure because we have given the permit to climbers," Tulsi Prasad Gautam, of Nepal's tourism department, said.

"The route is still damaged and the climbers at base camp don't think the route will be fixed anytime soon. It's up to the climbers and the organisers who are at base camp to take a decision: we are not asking them to do one thing or another."

The Nepal earthquake killed more than 7,200 people, with the UN warning approximately 28 million people have been affected by the 7.8 magnitude quake.

Meanwhile, NGOs have warned aid is struggling to reach remote areas. It is also feared diseases might spread among displaced people in remote areas as they do not have access to basic services.

If you want to donate to the victims of the earthquake, a number of institutions are involved in the assistance.