Key points
- Snowstorm hits hikers during peak travel week on Tibetan side of Everest
- Over 350 rescued while about 200 remain stranded amid subzero conditions
- Deep snow collapses tents, blocks access routes in Tingri County
- Massive rescue effort underway involving hundreds of personnel
ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of trekkers stranded by a blizzard near the eastern face of Mount Everest in Tibet had been guided to safety by rescuers, Chinese state media reported, as unusually heavy snow and rainfall pummeled the Himalayas.
As of Sunday, 350 trekkers had reached the small township of Qudang, while contact with the remaining 200-plus trekkers had been made, CCTV reported.
CNN said visitors to the remote valley of Karma, which leads to the eastern Kangshung face of Everest, were in the hundreds this week, taking advantage of an eight-day National Day holiday in China.
A sudden snowstorm on the eastern slope of Mount Everest, the Tibet side of the world’s highest peak, has trapped hundreds of climbers and hikers during China’s National Day holiday week, Chinese state media first reported on Saturday.
According to Reuters, nearly 1,000 people were initially believed to be stranded in the blizzard that struck the popular base camp region in Tingri County. As of late Friday, more than 350 trekkers had been safely escorted to a meeting point, while another 200 remained in contact with rescuers, the Associated Press reported, citing official updates.
Heavy snowfall reaching depths of up to one meter (three feet) buried tents and blocked trails, leaving climbers and tourists exposed to subzero temperatures at altitudes above 4,900 meters (16,000 feet). The Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management said hundreds of rescuers, supported by local authorities and military personnel, were deployed to clear snow, reopen access routes, and deliver emergency supplies.
Topography and location
The storm struck the Tibetan (eastern) side of Everest, accessible from China, while the western slope of the peak lies within Nepal’s Khumbu region. The Tibetan side, less frequented than the Nepalese route, is often visited by domestic tourists and climbers during the country’s week-long holiday period.
Drivers and impact
The blizzard coincided with the Golden Week national holiday, when thousands of tourists travel to remote regions. State broadcaster CCTV said the sudden weather shift caught several tourist groups by surprise, forcing many to seek shelter in collapsed or snowbound camps. No official confirmation of fatalities available so far, though hypothermia and altitude-related complications remain major risks.
Broader regional weather
In Nepal, the same weather system triggered heavy rain, landslides, and flash floods across several mountain districts, resulting in casualties and infrastructure damage, according to Reuters.
Authorities in both countries have issued alerts for worsening high-altitude weather as winter approaches.
