Blizzard traps over 200 hikers on Mount Everest’s Tibetan slopes, rescue efforts underway

More than 200 hikers who had been trekking the Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest are reportedly stranded on the mountain after a sudden blizzard trapped them in high-altitude campsites, forcing emergency teams to launch rescue operations.

A blizzard is a severe snowstorm that is characterised by strong, sustained winds, low temperatures and heavy snowfall that significantly reduces visibility.

According to Chinese state media, nearly 1,000 people were trapped, but around 350 hikers have already been evacuated to safety, while authorities say they have contacted all remaining hikers on the mountain.

The snowstorm reportedly struck over the weekend, coinciding with China’s eight-day National Day holiday, leaving trekkers in Karma Valley, a lesser-known trail to Everest’s base, struggling to survive amid deep snow and collapsing tents.

Hundreds of local villagers and rescue personnel were deployed to clear paths blocked by snow at altitudes exceeding 4,900 metres (16,000 feet).

Heavy snowfall began on Friday evening and intensified over the weekend. Guides described the snowfall as “unusually high for this time of year,” as emergency teams navigated blocked trails and treacherous terrain. Tibet’s Blue Sky Rescue team reported that some hikers were suffering from hypothermia, while the Tibet Firefighting Department sent personnel and vehicles to assist.

Tingri County Tourism Company suspended ticket sales and entry to the Everest Scenic Area from Saturday due to the storm.

Geshuang Chen, a 29-year-old outdoor enthusiast, told the BBC that her group set off for Cho Oyu Base Camp on October 4, but were caught in a sudden blizzard.

“When we woke up the next morning, the snow was already about a metre deep. All of us are experienced hikers, but this blizzard was extremely difficult to deal with. I was so lucky to get out,” she said.

Another hiker in a group of 18 told reporters that the conditions on the Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest were relentless, forcing them to retreat from their campsite.

“It was raining and snowing every day, and we did not see Everest at all. Three people got hypothermia even though they were wearing adequate attire. More than 10 of us were in the large tent and hardly slept. We had to clear snow every 10 minutes, otherwise our tents would have collapsed,” he said.

Videos from the scene showed rescuers carrying hikers on their backs through snow-covered trails, while villagers helped transport supplies with horses and yaks. Guides were filmed shovelling snow at night to prevent tents and hikers from being buried.

A seasoned Himalaya trekker and Everest summiter, Rebecca Stephens, said hikers face serious risks in the current conditions.

“You have a combination of cold and wet snow; there is a risk of hypothermia. If you are stuck high on the mountain in very heavy snow, you have to get yourself down,” she said.

The blizzard in Tibet coincided with deadly weather across the Himalayas. Heavy rains in Nepal caused landslides and flash floods, killing at least 47 people. Typhoon Matmo forced about 150,000 people to evacuate their homes in China.

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Lead weather presenter Ben Rich explained that October usually brings clear skies to Everest, but depressions and cyclonic storms from the Bay of Bengal can produce sudden snow and rain, as seen in this case.

Karma Valley is considered one of the most beautiful trekking routes to Everest’s base, but it requires medium to high mountaineering skills. Local authorities regulate access heavily. In 2024, the Everest Scenic Area received 540,200 visitors, though only a fraction attempted the summit.

Chinese state media say that hikers will be brought down in stages.