Kathmandu: Several cracks and holes have developed in the Mount Everest region due to last year's devastating earthquakes that killed about 9,000 people across Nepal, according to a specialist team responsible for maintaining the climbing route on the world's highest peak.

"The great earthquakes of April 25 and May as well as a large number of aftershocks have caused some damage in the Everest region," Ang Tshering Sherpa, chairman of Nepal Mountaineering Association, said.

"The ice-fall doctors fixing the ladders and ropes have informed that due to the cracks and holes developed on the slope of the mountain they need to fix more ladders this time," he said.

Icefall doctors are Sherpa mountaineers charged with repairing the climbing route on Mount Everest.

"This time we need 10 doctors, which is more than the usual number of six to fix the ropes and install aluminium ladders," Sherpa told Press Trust of India.

They also need more time to fix the ladders due to the problem, he added.