All hikers safely evacuated after Mt Everest snowstorm, Chinese authorities confirm
The sudden blizzard trapped trekkers at around 4,900 meters in Karma Valley, a little-known route to Everest's base.
All hikers stranded on Mount Everest after a sudden snowstorm over the weekend have been safely evacuated, Chinese authorities have confirmed.
Reports indicate that nearly 1,000 people, including foreign tourists and local guides, were trapped at high-altitude camps after heavy snowfall blocked trails and collapsed tents.
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The snowstorm began on Friday evening and intensified over the weekend, coinciding with China's eight-day National Day holiday, a period that draws both domestic and international tourists to the mountains.
The sudden blizzard trapped trekkers at around 4,900 meters in Karma Valley, a little-known route to Everest's base. Stranded in deep snow and freezing temperatures, many struggled to keep warm until rescue teams arrived.
By Monday, emergency teams had rescued around 350 hikers, with authorities reporting one death in Qinghai province owing to hypothermia and altitude sickness. Over the next two days, the remaining hikers were evacuated in a coordinated effort involving hundreds of local villagers, rescue personnel, and yak herders.
According to Xinhua, by Tuesday evening, more than 800 climbers, guides and rescue staff had been rescued and safely evacuated to nearby towns.
Additional reports indicate that a further dozen were taken to a secure location on the Tibetan Plateau, where they were provided with supplies while arrangements were made for their return to their respective countries.
"Over 300 personnel and 580 hikers, including local guides and yak herders, have arrived safely in a nearby town," the Chinese media agency said.
Rescue teams, including Tibet's Blue Sky Rescue and the Tibet Firefighting Department, faced dangerous conditions as they cleared snow-blocked trails and assisted hikers suffering from hypothermia.
Guides described the snowfall as "unusually heavy for this time of year," complicating the operation.
According to authorities, all stranded climbers have now been contacted and accounted for. Officials have credited the coordinated efforts of local staff and rescue teams for preventing further casualties.
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