A strong snowstorm hit the Mount Everest area in Tibet on Sunday, leaving around 1,000 trekkers stuck. Rescue teams helped many of them reach safety after heavy snow and rain caused dangerous conditions in the Himalayas.
By Sunday, trekkers reached Qudang, rescuers found others, and teams cleared snow to help nearly 1,000 trapped people.
Videos showed trekkers walking through knee-deep snow and battling strong winds under dark, cloudy skies unusual weather for October. One trekker who made it to Qudang said the cold and wet conditions made hypothermia a serious danger. He noted that even his guide had never seen such extreme weather in October.
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Heavy Snow Hits Everest Eastern Slopes
Heavy snowfall began Friday evening and worsened on Everest’s eastern side in Tibet, a popular climbing area. The valley’s high altitude of 4,200 meters made rescue efforts difficult.
The CCTV report didn’t confirm if local guides were safe, and Reuters didn’t clarify whether the blizzard affected trekkers near Everest’s north face. The north face, called Mt Qomolangma, attracts many tourists, especially in busy October. This year, more trekkers visited Karma valley during China’s eight-day holiday.
The nonstop snowfall happened at the same time as heavy rain in nearby Nepal and parts of India, causing landslides and floods that killed many people and injured several others.
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