Climbing will resume on Mount Everest by next week after an earthquake-triggered avalanche that left 18 people dead on the world's highest peak, a Nepalese government official said today.


Saturday's avalanche that ripped through base camp also destroyed ladders through the treacherous Khumbu icefall higher up the mountain, raising doubts about the future of this year's climbing season.


Tourism department chief Tulsi Gautam advised climbers against abandoning their expeditions, saying repairs were under way so that the spring season could continue for another few weeks.


"The ladders will be repaired in the next two to three days and climbing will continue, there is no reason for anyone to quit their expedition," Gautam told AFP.


He also played down concerns of further quakes and aftershocks. "There is no scientific reason to expect another quake... and we feel the ground is stable enough for climbing despite aftershocks," he said. Some 800 climbers were on the mountain when the avalanche roared through base camp, leaving 18 people dead and scores injured.