A massive rescue operation is underway on the eastern slopes of Mount Everest after a powerful snowstorm left close to 1,000 trekkers stranded in Tibet, the BBC reported. The blizzard swept through the Karma Valley, a popular route leading to the Kangshung face, just as crowds had arrived for China’s week-long National Day break.
Local villagers and rescue teams deployed
By Sunday, around 350 people had reached Qudang township, guided down by local rescuers, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Another 200-plus are still making their way down in groups, guided by rescuers. In total, almost a thousand people were believed to be stuck when the storm hit.
To clear the way, villagers and emergency teams have been digging out snow and opening blocked trails. Local media confirmed that everyone in touch with rescue teams is safe, though the descent is taking time.
To speed up operations, hundreds of villagers and emergency personnel were deployed to clear heavy snow blocking roads and trails. Earlier estimates from Jimu News suggested nearly 1,000 people were affected by the storm.
‘We were freezing, tents collapsed’
Those who managed to reach safety described the conditions as brutal. “It was wet, cold and scary. Hypothermia was a real danger,” said Chen Geshuang, who was part of a team of 18, according to the Reuters. He added that even their guide, with years of experience, said he had never seen weather like this in October. “The snow came all of a sudden. Our tents collapsed. There was thunder and lightning too. We didn’t know if we’d make it out.”
It is still unclear whether all guides and porters involved in the expedition are safe, or if groups on Everest’s north face were also affected. For now, the operation is focused on bringing everyone down to Qudang safely. As Chen, the trekker who made it out, put it: “When we reached the village and got a warm meal, we finally felt safe. But up there, it was the hardest night of my life.” The north side of Everest usually sees heavy tourist flow because it’s easily reachable by road.
Local reports said some hikers were already showing signs of hypothermia when calls for help reached Tibet’s Blue Sky Rescue team. The Karma Valley is situated at around 4,200 metres. Snow started falling Friday evening and continued through Saturday with heavy rain. October is usually one of the best times to visit Everest’s north side, but this year the weather has turned deadly. Tourism authorities in Tingri County suspended ticket sales and entry into the Everest scenic area from Saturday.