Hundreds of trekkers were stranded by an unprecedented blizzard near the eastern face of Mount Everest in Tibet, prompting a massive rescue operation that has safely guided many to safety amidst unusually severe weather.
Hundreds of trekkers found themselves stranded by a sudden and intense blizzard near the eastern Kangshung face of Mount Everest in Tibet, with Chinese state media reporting a large-scale rescue operation. As of Sunday, 350 trekkers had been successfully guided to the township of Qudang, and contact was established with over 200 remaining individuals. The trekkers, visiting the remote Karma valley during China's eight-day National Day holiday, faced unusually heavy snow and rainfall, with one trekker describing the weather as abnormal and a guide stating he had never seen such conditions in October. Snowfall began Friday evening and persisted through Saturday, creating a high risk of hypothermia. Local villagers and rescue teams were deployed to clear snow and assist the stranded. Following the incident, ticket sales and entry to the entire Everest Scenic Area were suspended. The article also notes severe weather impacts in Nepal, where heavy rains triggered landslides and flash floods, killing at least 47 people and leaving nine missing.
