In a major rescue operation, around 900 hikers, guides, and staff stranded by a powerful snowstorm on the Chinese side of Mount Everest have been brought to safety, according to Chinese state media reports on Tuesday night.
The severe storm struck the region on Saturday night, cutting off access to the high-altitude camps where the hikers were staying in tents at over 4,900 meters (16,000 feet). The storm left 580 hikers and more than 300 guides, yak herders, and other workers trapped due to blocked routes and harsh weather conditions.
By noon on Monday, about 350 hikers had managed to descend, with the rest reaching safety by Tuesday afternoon, officials confirmed. Some individuals reportedly suffered from hypothermia, and rescue teams provided food, medicine, heating, and oxygen supplies during the operation.
The scenic Everest area in China’s Tibet region has now been temporarily closed following the storm. Mount Everest, standing at 8,850 meters (29,000 feet), straddles the border between China and Nepal.
The snowstorm coincided with China’s weeklong National Day holiday, which marks the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949. The extended break often sees a surge in domestic travel, which may have contributed to the large number of trekkers in the area.
In a separate incident in Nepal, a South Korean climber died in a weekend snowstorm near the summit of Mera Peak (6,476 meters / 21,250 feet), located south of Everest.
Meanwhile, other regions in western China also experienced early-season snowstorms over the weekend. In Qinghai province, one person died of hypothermia and altitude sickness, and over 200 people had to be evacuated from a remote valley in the Qilian Mountains.
In Xinjiang’s Kanas region, another scenic tourist area was also hit by snow, stranding several motorists before the roads were cleared on Monday, according to state media.
Authorities have since warned travelers against entering high-altitude or remote mountainous areas without permission, citing unpredictable weather, rugged terrain, and limited infrastructure.
