🔗 Share this article

Emergency crews have escorted all of the last adventurers near the eastern slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to a secure location, including scores of native guides and livestock handlers, officials reported. This marks the end one of the largest search-and-rescue efforts ever seen in the region.

Large-Scale Rescue Operation Concluded

Numerous of hikers were found themselves stuck in thick snow over the weekend in the isolated Karma valley, after an unusually intense snowstorm unleashed substantial snowfall across the area.

Snow continued to fall throughout Saturday in the valley, which rests at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, emergency teams had escorted approximately 350 hikers to security.

Earlier reports had suggested that the remaining roughly 200 hikers were anticipated to reach safety by Tuesday.

In total, 580 hikers, along with more than 300 local guides, yak herders, and other support staff were brought out, according to authoritative reports released on Tuesday evening.

Those Rescued Describe Severe Conditions

One from China trekker recalled how their group had been “too anxious to sleep” on Saturday, as snow swiftly built up around their tents, compelling them to remove it every 90 minutes. They chose to move to lower ground on Sunday as the weather became more severe.

“On the way, we met our guide’s father, who had come looking for him. That’s when we realized the snow was deep in the valley, too; local residents, incapable to contact their children on the mountain, were very anxious.”

Climbing Plans Thwarted

The blizzard also hindered the objectives of alpinists guided by a US-based mountaineering firm to reach the top of Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the border between the People's Republic of China and Nepal.

Visitor Growth in the Region

Karma valley was first visited by western explorers a long time ago. In recent years, with the growth of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent visitor draw, the area has brought in an growing number of visitors. More than 540,000 tourists visited the Everest region last year, marking a unprecedented number.

Area Still Closed

The Everest region remains currently off-limits to the public, covering the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Wider Impact

The significant snowfall over the weekend also affected numerous of hikers in other parts of western China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Tragically, at least one traveler succumbed, due to a blend of low body temperature and high-altitude illness.

Atypical Weather

October is typically a high season for the area, with normally fine and pleasant weather, but one trekker of an 18-person trekking group that returned safely to Qudang noted that the weather this year was “unusual.”