Hundreds of trekkers stranded by a blizzard near the eastern face of Mount Everest in Tibet have been rescued, Chinese state media reported on Sunday, as the Himalayas faced heavy snow and rainfall. By Sunday, 350 trekkers had reached the township of Qudang, while contact was made with over 200 more, according to CCTV.
Many visitors had traveled to Karma valley, which leads to Everest’s eastern Kangshung face, during China’s National Day holiday. Trekkers described harsh conditions with cold, wet weather and a risk of hypothermia, as heavy snowfall continued through Saturday night. Rescue teams and local villagers worked to clear snow and assist nearly 1,000 people who were trapped.
Trekkers are being guided to safety in stages, with support from rescuers organized by the local government. The full status of local guides and support staff was not confirmed. Snowfall began Friday evening at elevations around 4,200 meters and persisted into the weekend, with some parties forced to turn back early.
The Everest Scenic Area closed to visitors on Saturday as conditions worsened. In Nepal, to the south, heavy rains caused landslides and floods that killed at least 47 people, with more reported missing.
Many visitors had traveled to Karma valley, which leads to Everest’s eastern Kangshung face, during China’s National Day holiday. Trekkers described harsh conditions with cold, wet weather and a risk of hypothermia, as heavy snowfall continued through Saturday night. Rescue teams and local villagers worked to clear snow and assist nearly 1,000 people who were trapped.
Trekkers are being guided to safety in stages, with support from rescuers organized by the local government. The full status of local guides and support staff was not confirmed. Snowfall began Friday evening at elevations around 4,200 meters and persisted into the weekend, with some parties forced to turn back early.
The Everest Scenic Area closed to visitors on Saturday as conditions worsened. In Nepal, to the south, heavy rains caused landslides and floods that killed at least 47 people, with more reported missing.
