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An NBC News crew was at the base of Mount Everest when an avalanche hit early Friday.
The massive avalanche killed at least 12 Nepalese guides. It is the deadliest incident on the mountain, the world's highest peak, to date. Savannah Guthrie confirmed on Friday's "Today" that members of the NBC crew are safe.
NBC Peacock Productions producer Jonathan Fierro and cameraman Ed Wardle spoke to her from the scene. Wardle, who has been on Mount Everest for other projects before, said it is common for ice to fall, but that it was quickly apparent that this time was different. "When radio reports started coming off the mountain that people were stuck in the avalanche, everybody came out and started getting organized for the rescue," he said.
He added that the crew had intended to go up the mountain with sherpas the previous night, but they chose to delay for 24 hours and were safe at the base camp when the avalanche hit.
He and Fierro are part of the team preparing for a Discovery special "Everest Live Jump" that was set to air in May and be hosted by Willie Geist. Capital New York added that the project is now in doubt, and that the priority for the team now, according to a spokesperson for Discovery, is assisting in the search and rescue efforts.