🔗 Share this article

Rescue teams have safely led all of the remaining trekkers near the eastern slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to safety, along with numerous of regional escorts and animal tenders, authorities stated. This marks the end one of the most extensive search-and-rescue operations ever seen in the zone.

Massive Evacuation Effort Concluded

Hundreds of explorers were became trapped in deep snow over the past few days in the remote Karma valley, after an unexpectedly intense winter blast unleashed substantial snowfall across the territory.

Snow persisted throughout Saturday in the valley, which rests at an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had escorted approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Previous accounts had indicated that the last group of roughly 200 hikers were expected to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, coupled with more than 300 local guides, yak herders, and other assistants were rescued, according to authoritative reports released on Tuesday evening.

Survivors Describe Extreme Situations

One Chinese traveler recalled how their group had been “too scared to sleep” on Saturday, as snow quickly piled up around their tents, compelling them to shovel it every 90 minutes. They opted to move to lower ground on Sunday as the situation deteriorated.

“On the way, we came across our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we found out the snow was deep in the valley, too; local residents, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried.”

Climbing Plans Thwarted

The blizzard also thwarted the plans of climbers guided by a United States mountaineering firm to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Visitor Increase in the Area

Karma valley was first visited by foreign explorers a century ago. In the past few years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a major tourism destination, the area has attracted an increasing number of tourists. More than 540,000 sightseers visited the Everest region last year, marking a all-time high.

Region Still Off-Limits

The Everest region continues to be temporarily closed to the visitors, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Effect

The heavy snowfall over the weekend also influenced numerous of travelers in other parts of western China, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Sadly, at least one person lost their life, due to a combination of hypothermia and acute mountain sickness.

Atypical Weather

October is typically a peak season for the area, with normally fine and moderate weather, but one member of an 18-person hiking party that returned safely to Qudang remarked that the weather this year was “unusual.”