🔗 Share this article

Emergency crews have escorted all of the remaining hikers near the east-facing slopes of Everest in the Tibet region to safety, including scores of local guides and livestock handlers, officials stated. This marks the end one of the biggest search-and-rescue efforts ever conducted in the region.

Massive Evacuation Effort Completed

Numerous of hikers were found themselves stuck in thick snow over the recent weekend in the secluded Karma valley, after an exceptionally fierce winter blast deposited heavy snowfall across the region.

Snow kept coming down throughout Saturday in the valley, which is located at an mean altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). By Sunday, rescue personnel had escorted approximately 350 hikers to a safe zone.

Previous accounts had suggested that the last group of roughly 200 travelers were anticipated to reach their destination by Tuesday.

In total, 580 mountaineers, in addition to more than 300 local guides, yak herders, and other crew members were evacuated, according to authoritative announcements released on Tuesday night.

Survivors Describe Severe Conditions

One Chinese trekker recalled how their group had been “too frightened to sleep” on Saturday, as snow rapidly accumulated around their tents, compelling them to remove it every 90 minutes. They decided to move to lower ground on Sunday as the conditions worsened.

“On the way, we encountered our guide’s father, who had ventured for him. That’s when we learned the snow was deep in the valley, too; local residents, not able to contact their children on the mountain, were deeply concerned.”

Expedition Schedules Thwarted

The severe weather also hindered the objectives of mountaineers guided by a American expedition firm to ascend Cho Oyu, an 8,188-meter (26,864-foot) peak on the boundary between China and the nation of Nepal.

Visitor Growth in the Area

Karma valley was first discovered by international adventurers a long time ago. In recent years, with the expansion of the Everest region in Tibet as a prominent travel attraction, the area has drawn an growing number of visitors. More than 540,000 visitors explored the Everest region last year, marking a all-time high.

Area Still Off-Limits

The Everest region continues to be currently closed to the general public, encompassing the Karma and Rongshar valleys, as well as Cho Oyu.

Broader Effect

The significant snowfall over the weekend also affected many of travelers in other parts of the western regions of China, for example Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu. Tragically, at least one individual died, due to a blend of hypothermia and acute mountain sickness.

Atypical Conditions

October is typically a peak season for the area, with normally clear and mild weather, but one participant of an 18-person hiking party that got back to Qudang commented that the weather this year was “atypical.”