About 900 people, including hikers, guides, and support staff, who were stranded on the Chinese side of Mount Everest due to a significant snowstorm over the weekend have been successfully rescued and reached safety, according to reports from state media on late Tuesday. The storm hit the region on Saturday night, blocking access to the area where the hikers were staying in tents located at an altitude exceeding 4,900 meters (16,000 feet).
A total of approximately 580 hikers and over 300 guides, yak herders, and other workers found themselves trapped by the severe weather conditions. By noon on Monday, around 350 hikers had managed to descend to safety, with the remaining group completing their descent by Tuesday, as per statements from local government sources.
Reports indicate that some of the hikers suffered from hypothermia. The official Xinhua News Agency noted that about a dozen individuals were escorted to a designated meeting point by rescue teams equipped with food, medicine, heating supplies, and oxygen. In the wake of the storm, the scenic area surrounding Mount Everest in Tibet, China, has been temporarily closed. Mount Everest, which stands at 8,850 meters (29,000 feet), is recognized as the tallest peak in the world and is situated along the border with Nepal.
The storm coincided with a weeklong holiday in China, which concludes on Wednesday. This holiday marks the anniversary of the establishment of Communist Party rule in the country on October 1, 1949, leading many Chinese citizens to travel both domestically and internationally during this period.
In a separate incident occurring in Nepal, a South Korean climber tragically lost their life during the weekend storm near the summit of Mera Peak, a 6,476-meter (21,250-foot) mountain located south of Everest. Additionally, early-season snowstorms impacted various regions in western China over the same weekend, resulting in the death of one person and leaving motorists stranded on an icy highway close to a popular hiking destination.
In Qinghai province, more than 200 individuals were evacuated from a rugged, remote valley within the Qilian Mountains. Unfortunately, one person succumbed to complications related to hypothermia and altitude sickness in this area. Authorities later issued warnings against unauthorized entry into this undeveloped region, emphasizing the challenging terrain, unpredictable weather patterns, and high altitude, which averages over 4,000 meters (13,000 feet).
In Xinjiang, northwestern China, the Kanas scenic area faced closures following a snowstorm on Sunday, which left numerous motorists stranded on adjacent highways. Fortunately, the obstructed road was cleared by the following Monday, as reported by state media.
