Rescue operations are in full swing on the Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest after a powerful snowstorm stranded nearly 1,000 people in high-altitude camps, according to Chinese state media.
Teams of rescuers and hundreds of local villagers have been deployed to the area, working tirelessly to clear snow and open routes to the affected campsites, located at an altitude of more than 4,900 metres (16,000 feet).
Local reports indicate that at least 350 individuals have already been rescued and guided to safety in Qudang town, Reuters reported.
The blizzard began late Friday evening, rapidly intensifying across the mountain’s eastern side — a region popular with trekkers and climbers. Survivors described extreme conditions.
“It was so wet and cold — hypothermia was a real risk,” said Chen Geshuang, a member of a trekking group that reached Qudang safely. “The guide said he had never seen such weather in October. It happened so suddenly.”
According to Chinese media, members of Tibet’s Blue Sky Rescue Team received urgent calls for help after tents collapsed under the weight of heavy snow, with several hikers showing signs of hypothermia.
Authorities in Tingri County have suspended ticket sales and access to the Everest Scenic Area until further notice.
The storm comes amid a bout of extreme weather across the region. In neighbouring Nepal, torrential rains have triggered landslides and flash floods, killing at least 47 people in two days. Meanwhile, Typhoon Matmo has made landfall in eastern China, displacing more than 150,000 residents.
Standing at 8,849 metres, Mount Everest remains the world’s tallest and most perilous peak — one that continues to test the limits of human endurance and nature’s power.
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