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By Hollie Silverman
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Hundreds of trekkers were rescued on Sunday after nearly 1,000 people were stranded on the Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest due to a blizzard, Reuters reported.
As of Sunday, 350 trekkers had reached the small township of Qudang, while contact with the remaining 200-plus trekkers had been made, Reuters reported, citing China Central Television (CCTV).
The Context
The unprecedented snowstorm affected a heavily trafficked trekking route during an eight-day National Day holiday in China, raising concerns about climber safety, emergency preparedness, and the increasing impact of severe weather in the Himalayas.
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The high elevation, risk of hypothermia, and suddenness of the storm required a significant rescue response. The event also highlighted broader weather disruptions in the Himalayan region, including deadly landslides in neighboring Nepal, underscoring the mounting risks posed by changing weather patterns.
What To Know
Around 1,000 trekkers, climbers, and support personnel were trapped on the eastern Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest after a heavy blizzard struck the region, according to Chinese state media and local reports.
Rescue efforts were initiated late Friday after snowfall began and intensified through Saturday, leaving campsites buried under snow and many tents collapsed.
The area affected, the remote Karma valley leading to the Kangshung face of Everest, sits at elevations above 13,800 feet, where the weather turned “wet and cold” unexpectedly, with hypothermia becoming a pressing risk for those stranded, according to multiple rescued trekkers, Reuters reported.
By Sunday, at least 350 trekkers had been safely guided to Qudang, with contact made with another 200-plus trekkers, according to CCTV.
Those remaining were being guided down in stages by a joint operation of local villagers and organized rescue teams.
The surge in visitors stemmed from an eight-day national holiday in China, a period when hundreds of trekkers annually head to Everest’s Tibetan approaches.
October marks a high season for adventure travel and general tourism at the famous peak, with thousands visiting Everest Base Camp and surrounding areas annually during this period.
Many described the ordeal as a harrowing night marked by thunder, lightning, and freezing conditions. Upon reaching Qudang, survivors were offered warmth, food, and tea by villagers, relaying relief at having survived the storm, Sky News reported.
Authorities suspended ticket sales and entry to the Everest Scenic Area from late Saturday to facilitate rescue efforts and prevent further risk, Reuters reported, citing notices on the official WeChat accounts of the local Tingri County Tourism Company.
Severe weather also battered neighboring Nepal, where heavy rainfall since Friday triggered deadly landslides and flash floods that have killed at least 47 people. Major roads and bridges were destroyed, and dozens remain missing. The events coincided with Typhoon Matmo making landfall in China, displacing 150,000 people, further illustrating regional climate vulnerabilities.
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What People Are Saying
Chen Geshuang, a member of an 18-person trekking team that escaped the storm told Reuters, on Sunday: "It was so wet and cold in the mountains, and hypothermia was a real risk. The weather this year is not normal. The guide said he had never encountered such weather in October. And it happened all too suddenly."
What Happens Next?
Rescue operations on the eastern slopes of Mount Everest continued Sunday, with remaining trekkers being guided to Qudang in groups.
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